Ticket-Based Utilization Management with Offline Signature Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing RFID-based systems for managing facility access require online units and do not support offline management using tickets like entrance or boarding tickets, posing security risks.

Innovation Solution

A utilization management device that verifies a use permit on a ticket using a public key to ensure offline validity and satisfaction of usage conditions, incorporating biometric authentication for enhanced security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If RFID readers are used for access management, then online verification is achieved, but offline management capability is lost and security risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidoffline management capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the access management system into two independent components: verification data (public key) stored in the ticket and usage conditions stored in the management device. This segmentation allows the ticket to function independently offline while maintaining security through cryptographic verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-storing verification data (public key) in the ticket during ticket issuance. This allows the ticket to be verified offline without requiring real-time connection to a central server, enabling offline management capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If tickets with codes are used for offline management, then offline verification is enabled, but ticket forgery risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoffline management capabilityVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces cryptographic signatures as an intermediary mechanism. The provider signs the verification data with a secret key, and the management device verifies it using the public key stored in the ticket. This intermediary cryptographic layer prevents ticket forgery while enabling offline verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces physical security mechanisms (such as magnetic strips or RFID chips requiring online verification) with cryptographic verification based on public key infrastructure. This substitution enables offline verification while maintaining high security standards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If traditional RFID systems are used, then centralized control is maintained, but flexibility for offline usage is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecentralized controlVSAvoidoffline usage flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the verification data (public key) from the centralized server and embeds it directly in the ticket. This extraction allows the ticket to operate independently offline while the management device retains centralized control by storing usage conditions and performing verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12406096B2Utilization management device, utilization management method, and program

Publication Date: 2025.09.02 BITKEY INC

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to perform offline management of use of usage target object by a user having a ticket, while reducing risk on security. A use permit that includes transaction information specifying usage conditions for the user to use the usage target object, is added as a two-dimensional code printed on a ticket. A utilization management device takes an image of the two-dimensional code added to the ticket to read the use permit from the image. Then, the utilization management device verifies a signature added to the use permit by using a public key provided in advance by a provider of the usage target object. If verification is established, the utilization management device refers transaction information included in the use permit to permit for user to use of the usage target object when usage condition specified by the transaction information are satisfied.