Transaction verification protocol for smart cards

• US 9,640,012 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2007
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Certicom Corporation (Blackberry Limited)
• Original Assignee: Certicom Corporation (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Vanstone, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaikh, Mohammad Z
• Assistant Examiner(s): GREGG, MARY M
• Application Number:
  US11/959,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20080183607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,423 Days
• Field of Search: 713169
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40975 using encryption therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A protocol appropriate for smartcard purchase applications such as those that might be completed between a terminal or ATM and a users personal card is disclosed The protocol provides a signature scheme which allows the card to authenticate the terminal without unnecessary signature verification which is an computationally intense operation for the smart card. The only signature verification required is that of the terminal identification (as signed by the certifying authority, or CA, which is essential to any such protocol). In the preferred embodiment, the protocol provides the card and terminal from fraudulent attacks from impostor devices, either a card or terminal.

Claims

1. A method of performing, in a communication system, a first transaction between a first participant device comprising a first processing unit performing cryptographic operations and a second participant device performing cryptographic operations wherein said second participant device permits a service to be provided to said first participant device to complete said first transaction and is enabled to obtain payment from a third participant in a second transaction, said method performed by said first processing unit and comprising:

verifying a digitally signed message from said second participant device, said digitally signed message comprising an identifier of said second participant device;

generating a digital signature using an anomalous elliptic curve scheme involving two exponentiations by performing;

generating a first value comprising a first random bit string and a second value comprising a second random bit string wherein said second value is required by said third participant to complete said second transaction; and

generating said digital signature comprising a first signature component encrypting said first value with said identifier of said second participant device and a second signature component generated using a hash, said hash being generated using said second value;

providing said first signature component and second signature component and said hash to said second participant device, for decryption of said first signature component using said second signature component and said hash, and for extraction of said first value from said first signature component;

receiving said extracted first value from said second participant device and verifying that said extracted first value received from said second participant device is equal to said first value originally generated by said first processing unit; and

authenticating said second participant device by determining that said extracted first value received from said second participant device is equal to said first value originally generated by said first processing unit, said first processing unit completing said first transaction by providing said second value to said authenticated second participant device and thereby obtaining said service, whereupon said authenticated second participant device completes said second transaction by providing said second value, received from said first processing unit, to said third participant.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein any one or more of the following is true:

said first participant device is a card which performs cryptographic operations;

said second participant device is a terminal;

said third participant is a financial institution.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first processing unit provides information pertaining to said first participant device with said digital signature.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said second participant device comprises a second processing unit.

5. A device for performing, in a communication system, a first transaction between a first participant and a second participant, wherein said second participant permits a service to be provided to said first participant to complete said first transaction and is enabled to obtain payment from a third participant in a second transaction, said device being located at said first participant, said device being configured for communicating with said second participant, and said device comprising a processing unit configured for:

verifying a digitally signed message from said second participant, said digitally signed message comprising an identifier of said second participant;

generating a digital signature using an anomalous elliptic curve scheme involving two exponentiations by;

generating a first value comprising a first random bit string and a second value comprising a second random bit string, wherein said second value is required by said third participant to complete said second transaction; and

generating said digital signature comprising a first signature component encrypting said first value and said identifier of said second participant and a second signature component generated using a hash, said hash being generated using said second value;

providing said first signature component and second signature component and said hash to said second participant, for decryption of said first signature component using said second signature component and said hash, and for extraction of said first value from said first signature component;

receiving said extracted first value from said second participant and verifying that said extracted first value received from said second participant is equal to said first value originally generated by said first participant device; and

authenticating said second participant by determining that said extracted first value received from said second participant is equal to said first value originally generated by said processing unit, completing said first transaction by providing said second value to said authenticated second participant thereby obtaining said service from said second processing device, and said authenticated second participant completing said second transaction by providing said second value, received from the first participant to said third participant.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein any one or more of the following is true:

said device is a card which performs cryptographic operations;

said second participant is a terminal;

said third participant is a financial Institution.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein said processing unit is further configured for providing information pertaining to said first participant with said digital signature.

8. A method of performing, in a communication system, a first transaction between a first participant device and a second participant device comprising a second processing unit, wherein said second participant device permits a service to be provided to said first participant device to complete said first transaction, and is enabled to obtain payment from a third participant in a second transaction, said method comprising:

said second processing unit obtaining a signature and a hash from said first participant device, said signature comprising a first signature component encrypting a first value and a second signature component generated using said hash, said hash being generated using a second value, said signature encrypted using an anomalous elliptic curve scheme;

said second processing unit extracting said first value from said first signature component using said second signature component and said hash;

said second participant device authenticating itself to said first participant device by sending said first value extracted from said first signature component to said first participant device;

after being authenticated by said first participant device upon said first participant device determining that said first value extracted from said first signature component and returned to said first participant device is equal to said first value originally encrypted in said first signature component, said second participant device receiving said second value from said first participant device, completing said first transaction, for providing to said third participant; and

said second participant device permitting said service to be provided to said first participant device to complete said first transaction, and completing said second transaction by providing said second value to said third participant.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein any one or more of the following is true;

said first participant device is a card which performs cryptographic operations;

said second participant device is a terminal;

said third participant is a financial institution.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein said second participant device obtains information pertaining to said first participant device with said signature.

11. A device for performing, in a communication system, a first transaction between a first participant and a second participant wherein said second participant permits a service to be provided to said first participant to complete said first transaction, and is enabled to obtain payment from a third participant in a second transaction, said device being located at said second participant, said device being configured for communicating with said first participant, and said device comprising a processing unit configured for:

obtaining a signature and a hash from said first participant, said signature encrypted using an anomalous elliptic curve scheme and comprising a first signature component encrypting a first value and a second signature component generated using said hash, said hash being generated using a second value;

extracting said first value from said first signature component using said second signature component and said hash;

sending said extracted first value extracted from said first signature component to said first participant to authenticate said device to said first participant; and

after said first participant determines that said extracted first value extracted from said first signature component and returned to said first participant is equal to said first value originally encrypted in said first signature component, receiving said second value from said first participant for providing to said third participant; and

permitting said service to be provided to said first participant, thus completing said first transaction, and providing said second value, to said third participant, thus completing said second transaction.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein any one or more of the following is true:

said first participant device is a card which performs cryptographic operations;

said device is a terminal;

said third participant is a financial institution.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein said processing unit is further configured for obtaining information pertaining to said first participant with said signature.

14. The device according to claim 11 wherein said first value is generated by said first participant and encrypted in said first signature component to have said device extract said first value from said first signature component and return said first value to said first participant, said first participant also having generated said second value, said second value to be provided to said device upon verifying that said first value extracted from said first signature component has been returned by said device and is equal to said first value originally generated by said first participant.

15. A method of performing a first transaction in a communication system between a first participant device comprising a first processing unit and a second participant device comprising a second processing unit, wherein said second participant device permits a service to be provided to said first participant device to complete said first transaction, and is enabled to obtain payment from a third participant in a second transaction, said method comprising:

said first processing unit verifying a digitally signed message from said second participant device, said digitally signed message comprising an identifier of said second participant device;

said first processing unit generating a digital signature using an anomalous elliptic curve scheme involving two exponentiations by performing;

generating a first value comprising a first random bit string and a second value comprising a second random bit string wherein said second value is required by said third participant to complete said second transaction; and

said first processing unit generating said digital signature comprising a first signature component encrypting said first value and a second signature component generated using a hash, said hash generated using said second value;

said first participant device providing said first signature component and second signature component and said hash to said second participant device;

said second processing unit decrypting said first signature component and extracting said first value from said first signature component using said second signature component and said hash;

said second participant device authenticating itself to said first participant device by sending said extracted first value extracted from said first signature component to said first participant device;

said first processing unit receiving said extracted first value extracted from said first signature component and returned by said second participant device and verifying that said extracted first value extracted from said first signature component and returned by said second participant is equal to said first value originally generated by said first processing unit;

said first processing unit authenticating said second participant device by determining that said extracted first value extracted from said first signature component and returned by said second participant device is equal to said first value originally generated by said first processing unit, said first participant device completing said first transaction by providing said second value to said authenticated second participant device and thereby obtaining said service; and

said authenticated second participant device permitting said service to be provided to said first participant device and completing said second transaction by providing said second value to said third participant.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein any one or more of the following is true:

said first participant device is a card which performs cryptographic operations;

said second participant device is a terminal; and

said third participant is a financial institution.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein said second processing unit obtains information pertaining to said first participant device with said digital signature.

18. A system for performing a first transaction between a first participant and a second participant, wherein said second participant permits a service to be provided to said first participant, to complete said first transaction, and is enabled to obtain payment from a third participant to complete a second transaction, said system comprising a first participant device comprising a first processing unit and a second participant device comprising a second processing unit configured to communicate with each other, said system being configured for:

said first processing unit verifying a digitally signed message from said second participant device, said digitally signed message comprising an identifier of said second participant device;

said first processing unit generating a digital signature using an anomalous elliptic curve scheme involving two exponentiations by performing;

generating a first value and a second value wherein said second value is required by said third participant to complete said second transaction; and

generating said digital signature comprising a first signature component encrypting said first value and a second signature component generated using a hash, said hash generated using said second value;

said first participant device providing said first signature component and second signature component and said hash to said second participant device;

said second processing unit decrypting said first signature component and extracting said first value from said first signature component using said second signature component and said hash;

said second participant device sending said first value extracted from said first signature component to said first participant device;

said first processing unit receiving said first value extracted from said first signature component and returned by said second participant device and verifying that said first value extracted from said first signature component and returned by said second participant is equal to said first value originally generated by said first processing unit;

said first processing unit authenticating said second participant by determining that said first value extracted from said first signature component and returned by said second participant is equal to said first value originally generated by said first processing unit, said first participant device completing said first transaction by providing said second value to said authenticated second participant device and thereby obtaining said service; and

said second participant device permitting said service to be provided to said first participant device and completing said second transaction by providing said second value, received from said first processing unit, to said third participant.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein any one or more of the following, is true:

said first participant device is a card which performs cryptographic operations;

said second participant device is a terminal;

said third participant is a financial institution.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein said second processing unit obtains information pertaining to said first participant device with said digital signature.

21. A method of performing, in a communication system, a first transaction between a first participant device comprising a first processing unit and a second participant device, wherein said second participant device permits a service to be provided to said first participant device to complete said first transaction, and is enabled to obtain payment from a third participant in a second transaction, said method comprising:

upon initiation of said transaction by said first participant device, said first participant device receiving from said second participant device, a first message including information pertaining to said second participant device;

said first processing unit verifying said information pertaining to said second participant device;

said first processing unit generating a digital signature using an anomalous elliptic curve scheme involving two exponentiations by performing;

generating a first value and a second value;

preparing a second message comprising said first value; and

preparing a digital signature comprising a first signature component encrypting said second message and a second signature component generated using a hash, said hash generated using said second value;

said first participant device sending said first signature component and second signature component, said hash and information pertaining to said first participant device to said second participant device, whereupon said second participant device decrypts said first signature component using said second signature component and said hash and extracts said first value from said first signature component;

said first processing unit receiving said extracted first value from said second participant device to acknowledge provision of said service; and

said first processing unit authenticating said second participant device by verifying said extracted first value received from said second participant device is equal to said first value originally generated by said first processing unit, and completing said first transaction by sending said second value to said authenticated second participant device thereby obtaining said service and completing said second transaction by providing to said second value to said third participant.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein any one or more of the following is true:

said first participant device is a card which performs cryptographic operations;

said second participant device is a terminal;

said third participant is a financial institution.

23. The method according to claim 21 wherein said information pertaining to said second participant device included in said first message includes details and credentials of said second participant device.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein said credentials include a public key certificate.

25. The method according to claim 21 wherein said information pertaining to said first participant device included in said second message includes details and credentials of said first participant device.

26. The method according to claim 21 wherein said second message includes an identifier generated by said second participant device to provide verification of the authenticity of said first participant device.

27. The method according to claim 26 wherein said identifier is a unique purchase I.D.

28. The method according to claim 21 wherein upon said first participant device sending said first signature component and second signature component, said hash and said information to said second participant device, said second participant device extracts said second message from said first signature component using said second signature component and said hash and extract said first value from said second message for returning said first value to said first participant device.

29. A system for performing a first transaction between a first and second participant wherein said second participant permits a service to be provided to said first participant to complete said first transaction, and is enabled to obtain payment from a third participant in a second transaction, said system comprising at least a first participant device, said first participant device having a cryptographic processor that is configured for;

upon initiation of said transaction, receiving from a second participant device, a first message including information comprising an identifier of said second participant device;

verifying said information pertaining to said second participant device by decrypting said first message;

generating a digital signature using an anomalous elliptic curve scheme involving two exponentiations by performing;

generating a first value comprising a random bit string and a second value comprising a random bit string;

preparing a second message comprising said first value;

preparing a digital signature comprising a first signature component encrypting said second message with said identifier of said second participant device and a second signature component generated using a hash, said hash generated using said second value;

sending said first signature component and second signature component, said hash and information pertaining to said first participant device to said second participant device, whereupon said second participant device decrypts said first signature component using said second signature component and said hash and extracts said first value from said first signature component;

receiving said extracted first value from said second participant device to acknowledge provision of said service; and

authenticating said second participant device by verifying said extracted first value received from said second participant device is equal to said first value originally generated by said first processing unit, and completing said first transaction by sending said second value to said authenticated second participant device thereby obtaining said service, and thereby enabling said second participant device to complete said second transaction by providing said second value to said third participant.

30. The system according to claim 29 wherein any one or more of the following is true;

said first participant device is a card which performs cryptographic operations;

said second participant device is a terminal;

said third participant is a financial institution.

31. The system according to claim 29 wherein said information pertaining to said second participant device included in said first message further includes details and credentials of said second participant.

32. The system according to claim 31 wherein said credentials include a public key certificate.

33. The system according to claim 29 wherein said information pertaining to said first participant device included in said second message includes details and credentials of said first participant.

34. The system according to claim 29 wherein said second message includes an identifier generated by said second participant device to provide verification of the authenticity of said first participant device.

35. The system according to claim 34 wherein said identifier is a unique purchase I.D.

36. The system according to claim 29 wherein said system further comprises a second participant device having a second cryptographic processor that is configured to, upon said first participant device sending said first signature component and second signature component, said hash and information pertaining to said first participant device to said second participant device, verify said information pertaining to said first participant device and extract said second message from said first signature component using said second signature component and said hash.

37. A method of performing, in a communication system, a first transaction between a first participant device and a second participant device comprising a second processing unit, wherein said second participant device permits a service to be provided to said first participant device to complete said first transaction, and is enabled to obtain payment from a third participant to complete a second transaction, said method comprising:

upon initiation of said transaction by said first participant device, said second participant device sending a first message to said first participant device, said first message including information pertaining to said second participant device;

said second participant device receiving from said first participant, a digital signature, a hash and information pertaining to said first participant device, said digital signature comprising a first signature component being prepared using a second message, said second message being prepared to comprise a first value, and a second signature component generated using said hash, said hash being generated using a second value;

said second processing unit verifying said information pertaining to said first participant device;

said second processing unit extracting said second message from said first signature component using said second signature component and said hash and extracting said first value from said second message;

said second participant device sending said first value extracted from said second message to said first participant device to acknowledge provision of said service and authenticate itself to the first participant device; and

after being authenticated by said first participant device upon determining that said first value extracted from said second message and returned to said first participant device is equal to said first value originally generated by said first participant device, said authenticated second participant device receiving said second value from said first participant device, and completing said second transaction by providing said second value to said third participant to be used to obtain payment from said third participant.

38. The method according to claim 37 wherein said second participant device is a terminal and said first participant device is a card which performs cryptographic operations.

39. The method according to claim 38 wherein said participant is a financial institution.

40. The method according to claim 37 wherein said information pertaining to said second participant device included in said first message includes details and credentials of said second participant device.

41. The method according to claim 40 wherein said credentials include a public key certificate.

42. The method according to claim 37 wherein said information pertaining to said first participant device included in said second message includes details and credentials of said first participant device.

43. The method according to claim 37 wherein said second message includes an identifier generated by said second participant device to provide verification of the authenticity of said first participant device.

44. The method according to claim 43 further comprising:

said second participant device completing said transaction by providing said service; and

said second participant device sending said third participant said first value and second value and said identifier to obtain said payment.

45. The method according to claim 44 further comprising:

said second participant device obtaining said payment from said third participant.

46. The method according to claim 43 wherein said identifier is a unique purchase I.D.

47. The method according to claim 37 wherein said first participant device comprises a first processing unit, said first value and said second value being generated by said first processing unit, said second value to be provided to said second participant device upon said first participant device verifying that said first value has been returned by said second participant device and is equal to said first value originally generated by said first participant device.

48. A system for performing a first transaction in a communication system between a first and a second participant wherein said second participant permits a service to be provided to said first participant to complete said first transaction, and is enabled to obtain payment from a third participant in a second transaction, said system configured to permit communication between a first participant device comprising a first cryptographic processor and a second participant device comprising a second cryptographic processor, said system comprising said first participant device and said second participant device, wherein:

said second cryptographic processor is configured to, upon initiation of said transaction by said first participant device, send a first message to said first participant device, said first message including information pertaining to said second participant device;

said first cryptographic processor is configured to;

verify said information pertaining to said second participant device, and, using an anomalous elliptic curve scheme, generate a first value and a second value, prepare a second message comprising said first value, prepare a digital signature comprising a first signature component encrypting said second message and a second signature component generated using a hash, said hash generated using said second value, and send said digital signature, said hash and information pertaining to said first participant device to said second participant device;

said second cryptographic processor is further configured to verify said information pertaining to said first participant device, decrypt said first signature component to extract said second message from said first signature component using said second signature component and said hash and extract said first value from said second message, and send said first value extracted from said second message to said first participant device to acknowledge provision of said service; and

said first cryptographic processor is further configured to authenticate said second participant by verifying that said first value extracted by said second cryptographic processor and returned to said first participant device is equal to said first value originally generated by said first cryptographic processor and, send said second value to said authenticated second participant device, completing said first transaction, whereupon said authenticated second participant device provides said second value to said third participant to complete said second transaction.

49. The system according to claim 48 wherein any one or more of the following is true:

said first participant device is a card which performs cryptographic operations;

said second participant device is a terminal;

said third participant is a financial institution.

50. The system according to claim 48 wherein said information pertaining to said second participant device included in said first message includes details and credentials of said second participant device.

51. The system according to claim 50 wherein said credentials include a public key certificate.

52. The system according to claim 48 wherein said information pertaining to said first participant device included in said second message includes details and credentials of said first participant device.

53. The system according to claim 48 wherein said second message includes an identifier generated by said second participant device to provide verification of the authenticity of said first participant device.

54. The system according to claim 53 further configured for:

said second participant device completing said transaction by providing said service; and

said second participant device sending said third participant said first value and second value and said identifier to obtain said payment.

55. The system according to claim 54 further comprising a third participant device, wherein said third participant device comprises a processor configured for:

verifying said first value and second value and said identifier; and

providing said payment to said second participant device.

56. The system according to claim 53 wherein said identifier is a unique purchase I.D.