Wearable-Powered Chip Card Body-Conduction Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chip-enabled cards often emit user information continuously when proximate to electromagnetic sources, making them susceptible to skimming and fraudulent use, as they lack internal power sources and rely on external impulses for operation.
Innovation Solution
A wearable computing device is used to transmit a specific signal through the user's body to power a chip-enabled card only when needed, ensuring that the card emits user information only during transactions or a set period after activation, thereby reducing exposure to potential skimming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If chip-enabled cards rely on external electromagnetic impulses for power, then the card can operate without internal power sources, but the card emits user information continuously when proximate to electromagnetic sources, making it susceptible to skimming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a wearable computing device as an intermediary between the user and the chip-enabled card. This wearable device transmits authorized electromagnetic signals to power the card only when needed, acting as a mediator that controls the card's activation state and prevents unauthorized continuous operation that would expose user information to skimming attacks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic activation of the chip-enabled card through controlled signal transmission from the wearable device. Instead of continuous operation, the card is powered only during specific transaction periods when the wearable device intentionally transmits signals, thereby minimizing exposure time and reducing skimming risk while maintaining operational functionality
2Ease of operation
If the chip-enabled card emits user information continuously to ensure availability for transactions, then transaction readiness is improved, but security is reduced due to increased exposure to skimming
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable device controls the card's operation through periodic signal transmission, activating the card only during intended transaction periods. This ensures the card is ready for transactions when needed while minimizing unnecessary information emission during non-transaction periods, thereby balancing ease of operation with security
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control where the wearable device receives notifications about the card's powered state and transaction status. This feedback mechanism allows the wearable device to intelligently control signal transmission, ensuring the card is activated only when a transaction is actually needed, thus maintaining readiness while enhancing security
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution minimizes the frequency and duration of user information emission, enhancing security by ensuring the card is only powered by authorized signals, reducing the risk of fraudulent use.
Implementation Method 1
the wearable computing device transmits the specific signal associated with the chip-enabled card through a conducting element of the wearable computing device that is in contact with the user's body
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for powering a chip-enabled card using a wearable computing device. The chip-enabled card is paired with the wearable computing device and a specific signal is generated for the chip-enabled card. When the chip-enabled card is proximate to the wearable computing device, the wearable computing device transmits the specific signal associated with the chip-enabled card through a conducting element in contact with the user's body, through the user's body, and to a touch pad of the chip-enabled card that is also in contact with a portion of the user's body. According to the disclosed techniques, the chip of the chip-enabled card verifies that the received specific signal is associated with the chip-enabled card, and uses the verified specific signal to power subsequent transactions performed by the chip-enabled card. In this way, the chip-enabled card only emits a signal to perform transactions when the user is holding the card.