Offline Virtual Document Authentication via Hash Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for authenticating virtual documents often require online connections to central servers, which can be unreliable, especially for mobile devices, and involve cumbersome physical documents that are difficult to manage and secure.
Innovation Solution
A method using a first electronic device to store a virtual document and its memory ID, and a second electronic device with a cryptographically secured database storing hash values of virtual documents, allowing offline authentication by calculating and comparing hash values, ensuring authenticity without an online connection and eliminating the need for physical documents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If online connection to central server systems is used for authentication, then authentication can be performed with centralized control, but reliability deteriorates when mobile network connection is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication system is segmented into two independent parts: a portable authentication device that stores virtual documents and a verification device that contains a cryptographically secured database with hash values. This segmentation allows the verification device to perform offline authentication by comparing hash values locally, eliminating the need for continuous online connection to a central server while maintaining authentication reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The verification device pre-stores a cryptographically secured database containing hash values of authentic virtual documents before the authentication process. This preliminary action enables the device to perform offline verification by comparing the hash value of the presented virtual document against the pre-stored hash values, ensuring authentication reliability without requiring online connection during the actual verification process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple physical documents are carried for different authentication purposes, then comprehensive authentication capability is achieved, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen due to cumbersome management
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring multiple physical documents, the system creates virtual copies of authentication documents in digital form. The portable authentication device stores virtual documents that can be easily copied and transferred electronically, eliminating the need to physically carry multiple different documents while maintaining comprehensive authentication capability across various scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable authentication device is designed as a universal device that can store and present multiple types of virtual documents (identity cards, passports, certificates, etc.) in a single location. This multi-functionality allows the user to access different authentication credentials from one device, eliminating the need to manage multiple separate physical documents while maintaining versatility across different authentication purposes.
3Reliability
If physical documents with electronics are provided for high authentication requirements, then security is improved, but device complexity increases and portability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex physical document infrastructure with a software-based solution. Instead of requiring specialized electronic hardware embedded in physical documents, the authentication mechanism uses cryptographic hash value comparison that can be implemented through software on standard portable devices. This substitution maintains high security through cryptographic verification while dramatically reducing hardware complexity and improving portability.
4Extent of automation
If central server systems are used for document verification, then centralized control is achieved, but loss of time increases due to network dependency
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized control functionality is segmented and distributed to the verification device through the pre-stored cryptographically secured database. This allows the verification process to occur locally without requiring real-time network communication with a central server, eliminating network-dependent delays while maintaining the integrity and control of the authentication system through cryptographic verification.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for offline authentication of a virtual document (108) using a first and a second electronic device (102, 352). The first electronic device (102) comprises a virtual document (108) and a storage ID (110). The second electronic device (152) comprises a cryptographically secured database (162) containing hash values of a plurality of virtual documents. The storage ID (110) identifies an entry in the database (162) with the hash value of the virtual document (108).The procedure comprises: • Transferring the virtual document (108) together with a storage ID (110) to the second electronic device (152), • Calculating a hash value of the virtual document (108) by the second electronic device (152), • Identifying the database entry with the hash value of the virtual document (108) using the storage ID (110) of the virtual document (108), • Comparing the calculated hash value with the hash value of the virtual document (108) stored in the identified database entry, confirming the authenticity of the virtual document (108) if both hash values match.