Temporary Initial Identifier Translation for Secure Account APIs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems expose sensitive primary account identifiers, such as primary account numbers, during API calls, violating security standards like PCI DSS, and there is a need to secure these identifiers within service provider systems.
Innovation Solution
A system generates and uses initial identifiers, like UUIDs, which are associated with user accounts and expire after a session or usage limit, translating them into primary identifiers within the service provider system to perform API calls without exposing the primary identifiers externally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If primary account identifiers are used in API calls, then system functionality and ease of operation are maintained, but security compliance and protection of sensitive information deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an initial identifier as an intermediary that mediates between the user application and the primary account identifier. The initial identifier is provided to the user application through authentication, allowing API calls to be made without exposing the primary account identifier. The system translates the initial identifier to the primary identifier internally, maintaining both security compliance and operational simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If primary account identifiers are exposed to user applications, then ease of operation is improved, but security standards and protection of sensitive information worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The initial identifier serves as a mediator that allows user applications to access account functionality without direct exposure to primary account identifiers. The application interacts with the system using the initial identifier, which is then translated internally to the primary identifier, eliminating the harmful exposure risk while maintaining application accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The initial identifier is designed as a temporary, session-specific credential that is valid only for a limited time or until the user session ends. This short-lived nature reduces the risk of exposure compared to permanent primary account identifiers, as the initial identifier becomes invalid after use or expiration.
3Reliability
If initial identifiers are used instead of primary identifiers, then security and compliance are improved, but system complexity increases due to translation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
While the initial identifier introduces a translation layer, this intermediary mechanism is implemented as a centralized system component that automatically handles the translation between initial and primary identifiers. The complexity is contained within the system infrastructure rather than requiring complex client-side logic, maintaining security compliance while managing system complexity through centralized translation services.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for global account identifier translation. Embodiments described herein include a service provider system configured to receive API calls that include an initial identifier, which may be issued by the service provider system and/or associated with a third-party entity. The service provider system may use the initial identifier from the API call to obtain a primary identifier associated with an account. The primary identifier is then used to service the API call to obtain an API call result. The API call result may be transmitted to the device from which the API call was received.