PSIA Experience 1.1.0

The "Public Key Open Credential" (PKOC) protocol represents an open standard designed for flexible implementation across a variety of devices, including mobile phones, smart cards, and any hardware capable of generating public and private key pairs. Its architecture aligns with principles similar to those of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), yet notably eliminates the need for a centralized infrastructure, as the generated public key itself functions as the credential.

PKOC supports three distinct data flow options—Normal, Obfuscated, and Elliptical-curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDHE)—offering a spectrum from user-friendly use cases to high-privacy requirements. Its design is inherently communication-agnostic, allowing deployment over multiple transmission protocols such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Near Field Communication (NFC), Ultra-Wideband (UWB), or other wireless communication methods.

For further information regarding PKOC and its relationship to standards such as the Physical Access Control Interoperability (PAI), researchers and practitioners are advised to consult resources provided by the Physical Security Interoperability Alliance, available at https://psialliance.org/all-about-plai/.