Electronic Device Identity Verification Using Time-Varying Proximity Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for improved methods and systems to facilitate the recycling or resale of electronic devices, such as mobile phones, to prevent fraud and enhance the recycling process while ensuring environmental responsibility.
Innovation Solution
Implementing temporally changing information, such as QR codes and audio signals, on electronic devices to verify their identity and proximity to a reader device, using sensors to authenticate the device and prevent fraud.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional static identification methods (IMEI, serial numbers) are used, then device identification is simple, but fraud prevention is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static identification (fixed IMEI/serial numbers) to dynamic identification (temporally changing information that updates over time). The temporally changing information changes at predetermined intervals and is tied to the device's proximity to the reader, making it dynamic rather than static. This resolves the contradiction by providing both reliability through continuous validation and manageable complexity through automated temporal management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces temporally changing information as an intermediary between the device and reader. This intermediary element (the changing information displayed on the device screen) mediates the authentication process by providing a time-dependent verification mechanism. The reader captures this intermediary information to validate device identity, enhancing fraud prevention while keeping the system architecture relatively simple.
2Reliability
If multiple verification steps are implemented, then fraud prevention improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action through temporally changing information that updates at predetermined intervals. This periodic change creates multiple verification opportunities without requiring multiple separate verification steps. The information naturally evolves over time, allowing the system to verify device identity across multiple time points efficiently, thus improving verification accuracy while minimizing time loss through automated temporal progression.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual multi-step verification processes with automated optical/electronic capture and comparison. Instead of mechanical or manual verification steps, the system uses the reader's camera or sensor to capture the temporally changing information and automatically compares it against expected values. This substitution of mechanical verification with electronic automation reduces processing time while maintaining high verification accuracy.
3Ease of operation
If self-service kiosks are used, then consumer convenience improves, but fraud vulnerability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains self-service functionality while enhancing security through temporally changing information. The consumer still interacts with the kiosk independently, but the authentication process is strengthened by the time-dependent verification mechanism. The device must display the correct temporally changing information at the moment of verification, preventing fraud while preserving consumer convenience through automated validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-configuring the device with the capability to generate and display temporally changing information before the verification moment. This preliminary setup ensures that when the verification occurs at the kiosk, the device is already prepared with valid, time-synchronized authentication data, preventing fraudulent attempts while maintaining smooth self-service operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Described are systems and methods to verify the identity of an evaluated device that has been previously identified and evaluated remotely from a reader device. The reader device obtains from an evaluated device temporally changing information, where the temporally changing information includes a unique identifier associated with the evaluated device and a proximity indication. The reader device verifies the temporally changing information by verifying that the unique identifier is contained in the temporally changing information, that the unique identifier is stored in a database associated with the reader device, and that the temporally changing information includes the proximity indication indicating that the evaluated device and the reader device are proximate to each other. Upon verifying the temporally changing information, the reader device obtains the price of the evaluated device, based on the unique identifier associated with the evaluated device. Upon obtaining the price of the evaluated device, the system compensates a user associated with the evaluated device.