Formula storage method

Abstract

A recipe storage method for restoring recipe information, comprising the following steps performed by a management device communicating with multiple electronic devices: (a) sending a request for restoration to the electronic devices when a trigger condition is met; (b) receiving t recipe fragments from the electronic devices related to the recipe information, wherein the t recipe fragments are configured as part or all of n recipe fragments, and 1 < t ≦ n; and (c) generating restored recipe information based on the t recipe fragments. Thus, by means of a mechanism that enables the restoration of the recipe information from the recipe fragments, the restored recipe information can be successfully transmitted to a preset electronic device in the event of loss of the recipe information, thereby achieving the purpose of confidentiality and inheritance.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a formula, and more particularly to a method for storing a formula. [Previous Technology]

[0002] Formulas not generally known to the public, such as the Coca-Cola formula, are usually subject to reasonable confidentiality measures to ensure their secrecy. For example, the Coca-Cola formula is kept in a highly secure vault, its contents known only to a select few senior managers. Reportedly, the keys to this vault are held separately by different senior managers, who are not allowed to travel on the same plane simultaneously to prevent the formula from being accidentally lost. Furthermore, access to the formula requires strict procedures, such as approval from the company's board of directors and the presence of government officials.

[0003] However, since the managers know the entire formula, the more managers there are, the greater the chance of leakage. The fewer managers there are, the easier it is for the formula to be lost due to accidents. Moreover, for the owner of the formula, considerable effort must be put in to ensure the long-term confidentiality and inheritance of the formula. [Summary of the Invention]

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a method for preserving a formula that can ensure long-term confidentiality and inheritance.

[0005] Therefore, the formula storage method of the present invention is used to restore formula information, and performs the following steps through a management device that communicates with several electronic devices via a communication network:

[0006] (a) When a triggering condition is met, a request for restoration information is sent to the electronic devices.

[0007] (b) Receive t recipe fragments from the electronic devices and related to the recipe information, wherein the t recipe fragments are configured as part or all of n recipe fragments, and 1 < t ≦ n.

[0008] (c) Generate a restored recipe information based on t of the recipe fragments.

[0009] The advantage of this invention is that, through the mechanism that can restore the formula information by means of these formula fragments, when the formula information is lost, the restored formula information can be successfully transmitted to a preset electronic device, thereby achieving the purpose of confidentiality and inheritance.

Implementation Method

[0010] Referring to Figure 1, an embodiment of the formula storage method of the present invention is used to restore a formula information S, and is implemented by a blockchain network 1 connected to a communication network (not shown).

[0011] In this embodiment, the communication network is configured as a wireless network using Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technology.

[0012] The blockchain network 1 includes a management device 11 and several electronic devices 12 that communicate with the management device 11 via the communication network. In this embodiment, the management device 11 and the electronic devices 12 are configured as blockchain nodes interconnected via the communication network. Each blockchain node is configured as a computer, smartphone, laptop, desktop computer, or other device capable of inputting or outputting data and information.

[0013] In this embodiment, the blockchain nodes belong to several users. These users are configured as: administrators who own the recipe information S; deployers who deploy a smart contract on the blockchain network 1; inheritors of the recipe information S; and a third-party group. The third-party group includes triggerers and sharers. Each user's identity is not limited to one; for example, a deployer can also be an administrator, and a triggerer can also be a sharer. However, an administrator cannot be an inheritor.

[0014] It is worth noting that the main technical feature of this invention lies in the method of storing the formula, and blockchain technology is not the focus of this invention. Since those skilled in the art can deduce further details from the above description, they will not be elaborated further.

[0015] In one embodiment of the recipe storage method of the present invention, a pre-processing procedure and a transfer procedure are executed through the smart contract.

[0016] It is worth noting that the smart contract is a type of computer code that can automatically execute contract terms according to preset rules and conditions. In this embodiment, in addition to writing the code to execute the pre-process and the transfer process, the smart contract further writes the following information: the wallet address of the corresponding manager, the wallet address of the corresponding successor, the wallet address of the corresponding triggerer, and the wallet address of the corresponding sharer, etc.

[0017] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the pre-procedure includes the following steps:

[0018] Step S01: Send a request recipe information M1 to the management device 11 that is configured as a blockchain node and is the corresponding manager.

[0019] Step S02: Receive the recipe information S transmitted back by the management device 11, which is configured as a blockchain node and is the corresponding manager.

[0020] Step S03: Decompose the recipe information S using an algorithm to obtain n recipe fragments C.

[0021] In this embodiment, the algorithm is configured to compute the constant term in a polynomial of power (t-1) using t ordered pairs. The polynomial of power (t-1) is, for example: y = a1xt-1 + a2xt-2 + ... + at-1x + constant. The recipe information S is configured as the constant term of the polynomial. The recipe fragments C are configured as ordered pairs of the polynomial. Thus, based on t of these recipe fragments C and using the Lagrange interpolation formula, a restored recipe information S' identical to the recipe information S can be generated. It is worth noting that each recipe fragment C can be signed using the administrator's key to verify the legitimacy of the recipe fragment C's origin. This algorithm can use cryptographic techniques such as secret sharing, such as Shamir, Mignotte, and Asmuth-Bloom, to divide the recipe information S into multiple recipe fragments C. Only when a certain number of recipe fragments C are reached can the recipe information S be reconstructed.

[0022] Step S04: Transmit n of the recipe fragments C to the corresponding sharers and the electronic devices 12 configured as blockchain nodes. Each recipe fragment C corresponds to its respective sharer and is stored in its respective electronic device 12.

[0023] For example, n=5, the number of sharers is also 5.

[0024] Referring to Figures 1 and 3, the transfer procedure includes the following steps:

[0025] Step S05: Determine whether a triggering condition is met. If yes, proceed to the next step. If no, continue to make the judgment.

[0026] In this embodiment, the triggering condition is configured to receive a triggering message M2. The triggering message M2 comes from an electronic device 12 that corresponds to the triggerer and is configured as a blockchain node. For example, the triggerer can reach an agreement with the administrator to send the triggering message M2 to the blockchain network 1 through the corresponding electronic device when the administrator passes away.

[0027] In other variations of this embodiment, it may also be configured to meet a predetermined date or to have elapsed a preset number of days from the date the smart contract is deployed.

[0028] Step S06: Send a request for restoration information M3 to the electronic device 12 that is the corresponding sharer and configured as a blockchain node.

[0029] Accordingly, taking the receipt of trigger information M2 as an example, the smart contract will send the request for restoration information M3 to the electronic device 12 of the corresponding sharer after receiving the trigger information M2. Taking the preset date as January 1, 2060 as an example, the smart contract will actively send the request for restoration information M3 to the electronic device 12 of the corresponding sharer on January 1, 2060. Taking the preset number of days as 3650 days and the deployment date of the smart contract as January 1, 2020 as an example, the smart contract will actively send the request for restoration information M3 to the electronic device 12 of the corresponding sharer on January 1, 2030.

[0030] Step S07: Receive t recipe fragments C from the corresponding sharer and configured as blockchain nodes of electronic devices 12, which are related to the recipe information S.

[0031] In this embodiment, t of the formulation fragments C are configured as part or all of n of the formulation fragments C, and 1 < t ≦ n. When n = 5, t is configured as 5, 4, 3, or 2.

[0032] Step S08: Generate a restored recipe information S' based on t recipe fragments C.

[0033] Accordingly, when the recipe fragment C is broadcast to the blockchain network 1, it will be verified and confirmed by miners or validators. Once the recipe fragment C is confirmed, the restored recipe information S' can be generated.

[0034] The restored recipe information S' is also calculated by the same algorithm. In this embodiment, the restored recipe information S' is configured as a constant term of a polynomial raised to the power of (t-1). Therefore, when the number of recipe fragments C is greater than or equal to t, the restored recipe information S' can be solved by Lagrange interpolation.

[0035] Step S09: Transmit the restoration recipe information S' to the electronic device 12 that is configured as a blockchain node and is the corresponding successor.

[0036] It is worth noting that after the restoration recipe information S' is generated in step S08, it is not limited to being transmitted to the corresponding electronic device 12. Step S09 can also be omitted, and the information can be directly displayed on the management device 11. Furthermore, this pre-processing is not limited to being executed by the smart contract. In other variations of this embodiment, n recipe fragments C can be calculated in advance by other devices capable of inputting or outputting data and information, and transmitted to all sharers' computers, smartphones, laptops, desktop computers, or other devices capable of inputting or outputting data and information. Therefore, the smart contract only needs to execute the transfer procedure. Each recipe fragment C can be signed using the administrator's key to verify the legitimacy of the recipe fragment C's origin.

[0037] Furthermore, the recipe storage method of the present invention is not limited to being implemented via the blockchain network 1. In other variations of this embodiment, it can also be implemented directly via the management device 11 and the electronic devices 12 communicating with each other via the communication network. The difference is that the communication network is configured as a wireless network or a cellular network using mobile communication technology. The management device 11 and the electronic devices 12 are not blockchain nodes.

[0038] In practice, the management device 11 executes steps S01 to S09 through an installed application.

[0039] Based on the above description, the advantages of the aforementioned embodiments can be summarized as follows:

[0040] 1. When the formula information S is lost, the present invention can restore the formula information S through the formula fragments C, and successfully pass on the restored formula information S' to the successor, while also ensuring the confidentiality of the formula information S.

[0041] 2. Furthermore, since the triggerer or sharer does not know each other's identities and cannot confirm the number of sharers, they cannot generate the restoration recipe information S' privately, thus ensuring the safety and correctness of the transmission of the restoration recipe information S'.

[0042] 3. Importantly, the present invention can still generate the restored formula information S' even when t is less than n. In this way, in addition to reducing the number of administrators to a minimum of 1 person, the restored formula information S' can also be successfully transferred to the successor even when not every sharer can return their respective formula fragment C, for example, when one sharer passes away, thus achieving the purpose of long-term confidentiality and inheritance.

[0043] However, the above description is only an embodiment of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the patent application and the contents of the patent specification shall still fall within the scope of the patent of the present invention. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0044] Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the formula storage method of the present invention; Figure 2 is a flowchart of a pre-process of the embodiment; and Figure 3 is a flowchart of a transfer process of the embodiment.

Claims

1. A recipe storage method for restoring recipe information, and performing the following steps via a management device that communicates with several electronic devices through a communication network: (a) sending a request for restoration information to the electronic devices when a trigger condition is met; (b) receiving t recipe fragments from the electronic devices and related to the recipe information, wherein the t recipe fragments are configured as part or all of n recipe fragments, and 1 < t ≦ n; and (c) generating a restored recipe information based on the t recipe fragments.

2. The formula storage method as described in claim 1, wherein, The trigger condition is configured to meet a predetermined date, or to have elapsed a preset number of days since the date the request for restoration information was sent.

3. The method for storing the formula as described in claim 1, wherein, The trigger condition is configured to receive a trigger message from the corresponding electronic device.

4. The formula storage method as described in claim 1, wherein, Each of the recipe fragments in step (b) is shared by its respective electronic device.

5. The formula storage method as described in claim 4, wherein, The restored recipe information in step (c) is configured to be calculated by an algorithm that is configured to compute a polynomial of power (t-1) using t ordered pairs, wherein the recipe fragments are configured as ordered pairs of the polynomial and the restored recipe information is configured as the constant term of the polynomial.

6. The recipe storage method as described in claim 1 further includes the following steps prior to step (a): (d) receiving the recipe information; (e) disassembling the recipe information using an algorithm to obtain n recipe fragments, wherein t of the n recipe fragments are used to generate the restored recipe information; and (f) transmitting the n recipe fragments to the electronic devices.

7. The method for storing the formula as described in claim 1, wherein, The recipe fragment in step (b) is configured to be pre-decomposed from the recipe information by an algorithm before step (d).

8. The method for storing the formula as described in claim 1, wherein, t < n.

9. The recipe storage method as described in claim 1 further includes step g after step (c), transmitting the restored recipe information to a preset electronic device.

10. The method for storing the formula as described in claim 1, wherein, In step (c), the restoration recipe information is further displayed.

11. The recipe storage method as described in claim 1, implemented by a blockchain network, wherein the management device and the electronic devices are configured as blockchain nodes interconnected via the communication network, and the recipe storage method executes the steps through a smart contract deployed by the management device on the blockchain network.

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