Method for managing permissions associated with object

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for managing permissions associated with an object (1), such as a timepiece (1) or an item of jewelry, comprising the following steps: creating a first digital token associated with a first permission, in particular ownership, to the object, the first digital token being stored and validated using a first blockchain protocol; creating a second digital token, in particular a non-homogenized digital token, associated with a second permission, in particular a permission to access digital content, in particular multimedia content, associated with the object, the second digital token being stored and validated using a second blockchain protocol; creating a smart contract binding the aforementioned rights to the first digital token and the second digital token such that ownership of one of the first digital token and the second digital token cannot be transferred without ownership of the other of the first digital token and the second digital token.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a method for managing rights associated with an object. The invention also relates to the use of such an object in a method for managing rights attached to the object. The invention also relates to a device for managing rights associated with such an object. The invention also relates to a program product for managing rights associated with such an object. The invention also relates to a data recording medium dedicated to implementing a method for managing rights associated with such an object. Finally, the invention relates to a signal from a data medium carrying such a computer program product. Background Art

[0002] In certain sectors, especially the luxury goods sector, it is necessary to keep a register of goods that have been manufactured and sold. It may also make sense to record the chain of authority throughout the existence of the goods. However, such a record cannot be guaranteed once the product has been placed on the market. Keeping a register is only possible if the different owners of the product make themselves known to the owner of the register and more specifically to the manufacturer who keeps the register.

[0003] Proposal of the present invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a method for managing rights associated with an object, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and improves the management methods known in the prior art. In particular, the present invention provides a method for managing rights associated with an object, which allows to guarantee traceability and authenticity while also allowing to manage rights associated with goods and / or services attached to objects. Summary of the invention

[0005] According to the invention, a method allows managing permissions associated with an object (e.g. a watch or jewelry item). The method comprises the following steps:

[0006] - creating a first digital token associated with a first right, in particular ownership, to an object, the first digital token being stored and authenticated by means of a first blockchain protocol,

[0007] - creating a second digital token, in particular a non-fungible digital token, which is associated with a second right, in particular access rights to digital content, in particular multimedia content, associated with the object, the second digital token being stored and authenticated by means of a second blockchain protocol,

[0008] -Create a smart contract that links the rights on the first digital token and the rights on the second digital token, so that ownership on one of the first digital token and the second digital token cannot be transferred without ownership on the other of the first digital token and the second digital token.

[0009] The first blockchain protocol and the second blockchain protocol are advantageously of the same type, or the first blockchain protocol and the second blockchain protocol are advantageously the same blockchain protocol.

[0010] The smart contract may involve the creation of a third digital token by means of a blockchain protocol, and the third digital token may include information including:

[0011] at least one piece of information contained in the first digital token, in particular, for example, information about the object and / or a serial number of the object and / or an identifier of the transaction in which the first digital token was created and / or an activation date of the certificate of authenticity and / or a sales date of the product and / or an identifier of the first digital token, and

[0012] - at least one piece of information contained in the second digital token, such as in particular an identifier of the second digital token.

[0013] Preferably, the smart contract is configured such that transferring ownership on the first digital token involves transferring ownership on the second digital token and / or transferring ownership on the third digital token, and / or

[0014] Transferring ownership of the second digital token involves transferring ownership of the first digital token and / or transferring ownership of the third digital token, and / or

[0015] Transferring ownership on the third digital token involves transferring ownership on the first digital token and / or transferring ownership on the second digital token.

[0016] The first digital token and / or the second digital token may be associated with a digital wallet, in particular, associated with the same digital wallet.

[0017] A digital wallet or one of the digital wallets may be associated with:

[0018] - a public key, or

[0019] - a code associated with the public key,

[0020] The public key or code is written in:

[0021] - on an object, in particular a part of a timepiece, in particular a barrel of a timepiece or a ratchet of a barrel, or

[0022] - on a tangible medium sold with the object, or

[0023] - in a digital document, such as a computer file, or in a message, in particular MMS (acronym for Multimedia Messaging Service) or SMS (acronym for Short Messaging Service).

[0024] The public key or a code associated with the public key may be written by printing or by engraving or by an adhesive label.

[0025] The code associated with the public key may be a machine-readable code, such as an NFC tag or a barcode, in particular such as a matrix code or a QR code.

[0026] A digital wallet or one of the digital wallets may be associated with:

[0027] - Private key, or

[0028] - a code associated with a private key,

[0029] The private key or the code associated with the private key is written in:

[0030] - a tangible medium attached to the object, in particular a card, label or physical document, and / or

[0031] - in a digital document, such as a computer file, or in a message, in particular an MMS or SMS.

[0032] The code associated with the private key may be a machine-readable code, such as an NFC tag or a barcode, in particular such as a matrix code or a QR code.

[0033] The invention also relates to the use of an object or a tangible medium or accessory attached to an object, in particular a timepiece, in particular a barrel of a timepiece or a ratchet of a barrel, as a medium for a public key of a digital wallet or a code associated with a public key.

[0034] According to the invention, a device allowing management of rights associated with objects, in particular a distributed computing architecture, comprises hardware and / or software elements implementing the method defined above, in particular hardware and / or software elements designed to implement the method defined above.

[0035] According to the invention, a device comprises means for implementing the steps of the method defined above.

[0036] According to the invention, a computer program product comprises program code instructions recorded on a computer-readable medium for implementing the steps of the method defined above when said program is run on a computer.

[0037] The invention also relates to a computer program product that can be downloaded from a communication network and / or recorded on a data medium that can be read by a computer and / or can be executed by a computer. The program product comprises instructions that, when the program is executed by a computer, guide the computer to implement the steps of the method defined above.

[0038] The invention also relates to a computer-readable data recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising program code instructions for implementing the method defined above.

[0039] The present invention also relates to a computer-readable recording medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to implement the steps of the method defined above.

[0040] The invention also relates to a signal from a data medium carrying the computer program product defined above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The subject matter, features and advantages of the invention are described in detail in the following description of a particular embodiment given in a non-limiting manner with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0042] Figure 1 is a view of a clock, the rights to which are managed according to one execution mode of the method according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] The execution mode of the management method described below is explained in the context of application to an object 1 being a timepiece 1. However, the method can be applied to any type of physical or intangible object, product or service. It can also be applied in particular to jewelry items.

[0044] The object is the primary element whose rights are managed according to this method. The object may be sold together with additional or auxiliary elements, which may also be of any type, such as physical or intangible objects, products or services.

[0045] In the described embodiment, while the main element is a timepiece, the auxiliary elements include services that allow access to data, in particular multimedia data that may include images, audio content and video. For example, these data may illustrate with a chart the history of the creative project that brought the object to market. For example, these data may include interviews with those involved in the project, such as an interview with an art director or an interview with a technical director who proposed directly to the owner of the timepiece.

[0046] Auxiliary elements may also include digital or physical artwork sold with the timepiece, for example produced by an artist who collaborated with the manufacturer, in particular in the creation of the timepiece. Auxiliary elements may also be accessory objects, such as a display case for a timepiece.

[0047] Once the manufacturer has produced the primary element (for example the object consisting of a timepiece) and the auxiliary elements (for example the service allowing access to the data), the mode of execution of the method that is the subject of the invention is achieved.

[0048] The method allows managing the rights to the main element. In particular, the ownership of the main element can be managed. The ownership can be divided into bare-ownership and usufruct. The management of any other rights associated with the main element can be envisaged.

[0049] The method also allows managing rights to auxiliary elements. In particular, the ownership of auxiliary elements can be managed. This ownership can be divided into bare ownership and usufruct. The management of any other rights associated with auxiliary elements can be envisaged. These rights to auxiliary elements can be considered as rights associated with the main element, and the auxiliary element is associated with the main element.

[0050] The association between the auxiliary element and the main element may be of any nature, in particular functional, commercial, conceptual or artistic. The association may also be the result of the implementation of the rights management method.

[0051] In a first step of the management method, a first digital token associated with a first right (in particular ownership) to the timepiece is created or created. For example, the first digital token is a non-fungible token (NFT). The first digital token is stored and authenticated by means of a first blockchain protocol. The first protocol is, for example, the blockchain protocol AURA.

[0052] In a second step of the management method, a second digital token is created or created, which is associated with a second right, in particular access rights to digital content associated with the timepiece, in particular multimedia content. As described above, the second right can be a right to an auxiliary element. For example, the second digital token is a non-homogeneous token. The second digital token is stored and authenticated by means of a second blockchain protocol. The second protocol is, for example, the blockchain protocol POLYGON.

[0053] For example, the second right may be access rights to digital content hosted on an Internet site belonging to the manufacturer. Thus, the second right may be a usufruct of the website, while the bare ownership of the website is retained by the manufacturer.

[0054] The first blockchain protocol and the second blockchain protocol may be of the same type, or indeed the first blockchain protocol and the second blockchain protocol may be the same blockchain protocol.

[0055] The second step can be implemented in various ways.

[0056] For example, in a first execution mode, the operation of creating a second digital token is triggered as soon as the manufacturer completes the watch, or when the manufacturer's watch is sold to a first customer or first owner.

[0057] For example, in the second execution mode, it is the first customer or first owner who triggers the creation of the second digital token after he already owns the timepiece.

[0058] To implement the second execution mode:

[0059] - a public key, or

[0060] - a code associated with the public key,

[0061] is written on timepiece 1 , in particular on part 2 of the timepiece, in particular on barrel 2 of timepiece 1 or on ratchet 3 of barrel 2 .

[0062] Alternatively, the watch may be provided with a tangible medium, such as a document, a label, a certificate, a display case or any attachment on which the public key or a code associated with the public key is written. Alternatively, the watch may also be provided with a digital document, such as a computer file, or a message, in particular an MMS or SMS, containing the public key or a code associated with the public key. This digital document may be handed over or sent when the watch is purchased.

[0063] In addition, during the sale period of watches,

[0064] - Private key, or

[0065] - a code associated with a private key,

[0066] A tangible medium may be provided, such as a document, label, certificate, display case or any attachment on which the private key or the code associated with the private key is written. Alternatively, a digital document, such as a computer file, or a message, in particular an MMS or SMS, containing the private key or the code associated with the private key may be provided to the watch. The digital document may be handed over or sent when the watch is purchased. Preferably, the delivery of the private key or the code associated with the private key is safe. For example, when the private key or the code associated with the private key is attached to a document or more generally to any physical medium, it is covered with a coating that masks it so that only the first owner can see it after removing the coating.

[0067] Either or both of the keys and / or either or both of the codes associated with the keys may be written by printing or by engraving or adhering labels.

[0068] Preferably, either or both of the codes associated with the key are codes readable via radio frequency or optically readable by a machine, such as an NFC tag (NFC stands for Near Field Communication) or a barcode, in particular a barcode such as a matrix code or a QR code.

[0069] Thus, after purchasing the timepiece, the first owner of the timepiece can trigger the creation of a second digital token by accessing the public and private keys. To do this, she or he can navigate to a dedicated website and enter the public and private keys to start the creation of the second digital token.

[0070] When created, the first digital token and the second digital token are associated with one or two digital wallets. They are associated with the digital wallet of the first owner upon creation, or are transferred from the manufacturer's digital wallet to the digital wallet of the first owner when the timepiece is sold. The first digital token and the second digital token may be associated with different digital wallets. Advantageously, the first digital token and the second digital token may be associated with the same digital wallet.

[0071] The above-mentioned public key and private key are advantageously the public key and private key of the digital wallet of the first owner, which contain the first digital token and the second digital token after the sale of the manufacturer's timepiece to the first owner.

[0072] Advantageously, in the third step of the management method, a smart contract is created that links the rights on the first digital token and the rights on the second digital token, so that ownership on one of the first digital token and the second digital token cannot be transferred without ownership on the other of the first digital token and the second digital token. In other words, the first digital token and the second digital token cannot be transferred without each other. Also preferably, assuming that the first digital token and the second digital token are initially associated with the first digital wallet, they can only be transferred together to be associated with the second digital wallet after the transfer.

[0073] Preferably, the smart contract involves creating or minting a third digital token by means of a third blockchain protocol. The third blockchain protocol is preferably the same as the first blockchain protocol or the second blockchain protocol.

[0074] The third digital token advantageously contains the following information:

[0075] at least one piece of information contained in the first digital token, in particular, for example, information about the timepiece and / or a serial number of the timepiece and / or an identifier of the transaction in which the first digital token was created and / or an activation date of the certificate of authenticity and / or a date of sale of the timepiece and / or an identifier of the first digital token, and

[0076] - at least one piece of information contained in the second digital token, such as in particular an identifier of the second digital token.

[0077] Alternatively, the first digital token and the second digital token (and optionally the third digital token) may be created simultaneously or nearly simultaneously. In this case, the first digital token may be created to include data related to the second digital token, and the second digital token may be created to include data related to the first digital token. Thus, the first token and the second token may be linked when created.

[0078] Preferably, the smart contract is configured such that:

[0079] - the transfer of ownership of the first digital token involves the transfer of ownership of the second digital token and / or the transfer of ownership of the third digital token, and / or

[0080] - the transfer of ownership of the second digital token involves the transfer of ownership of the first digital token and / or the transfer of ownership of the third digital token, and / or

[0081] - Transferring ownership of the third digital token involves transferring ownership of the first digital token and / or transferring ownership of the second digital token.

[0082] In fact, when the transfer of a digital token from one digital wallet to another is triggered, the transfer of another digital token or other digital tokens is automatically triggered. Advantageously, in a software application that allows such transfers, when a transfer of a digital token is requested, the application sends a message warning of the consequences of the transfer on other digital tokens.

[0083] Also advantageously, a smart contract may be configured to restrict the transfer of one or more digital tokens, for example so as to:

[0084] - Make the transfer of one or more digital tokens dependent on the authorization of a third party (e.g. a manufacturer),

[0085] - limit the frequency of transfers of one or more digital tokens, for example, limiting the transfer of digital tokens to once a year,

[0086] - Prohibit the transfer of one or more digital tokens.

[0087] In particular, any of these limitations may be implemented in the event of loss or theft of the timepiece.

[0088] Where the transfer of one or more digital tokens is prohibited, provision may be made for the entire digital wallet containing the digital tokens to be transferable from one owner to another.

[0089] By means of the above method, the rights to the main elements of a watch, for example, can be managed. In particular, various past transactions can be authenticated and tracked on the blockchain protocol.

[0090] Advantageously, all transactions on the blockchain protocol can be saved by the manufacturer. To this end, in particular, the manufacturer can manage the network nodes of the architecture, allowing the execution of the processing operations of the blockchain involved in the storage and certification of the digital token.

[0091] Note that the owner advantageously uses the code associated with the public key and attached to the watch itself to connect to the website providing the above digital content. For example, using a smart phone to read the QR code attached to the watch allows the phone to automatically connect to the website providing the content.

[0092] The invention also relates to the use of an object and / or a tangible medium and / or an accessory attached to an object, in particular a timepiece 1, in particular a barrel 2 of the timepiece 1 or a ratchet 3 of the barrel 2 as a medium for a public key of a digital wallet or a code 4 associated with a public key.

[0093] An embodiment of the device, in particular of a distributed computing architecture, allows managing permissions associated with objects. The embodiment comprises hardware and / or software elements implementing the above method.

[0094] An embodiment of a computer program product comprises program code instructions recorded on a computer readable medium, the program code instructions being used to implement the steps of the above method when the program is run on a computer.

[0095] Examples of program product codes for implementing the described management method are described in detail below.

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[0115] The present invention also relates to a computer-readable data recording medium having a computer program recorded thereon, the computer program comprising program code instructions for implementing the above method.

[0116] The invention also relates to a signal from a data medium carrying the above-mentioned computer program product.

Claims

1. A method for managing permissions associated with an object (1), the object (1) being, for example, a watch (1) or an item of jewellery, the method comprising the following steps: - creating a first digital token, which is associated with a first right, in particular ownership, to the object, which is stored and authenticated by means of a first blockchain protocol, - creating a second digital token, in particular a non-fungible digital token, which is associated with a second right, in particular access rights to digital content, in particular multimedia content, associated with the object, which second digital token is stored and authenticated by means of a second blockchain protocol, -Create a smart contract that links the rights on the first digital token and the rights on the second digital token, so that ownership on one of the first digital token and the second digital token cannot be transferred without ownership on the other of the first digital token and the second digital token.

2. The management method of claim 1, wherein the first blockchain protocol and the second blockchain protocol are of the same type, or the first blockchain protocol and the second blockchain protocol are the same blockchain protocol.

3. A management method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the smart contract involves creating a third digital token by means of a blockchain protocol, and the information included in the third digital token includes: at least one piece of information contained in said first digital token, in particular for example information about said object and / or a serial number of said object and / or an identifier of the transaction for creating said first digital token and / or an activation date of a certificate of authenticity and / or a sales date of a product and / or an identifier of said first digital token, and - at least one piece of information contained in said second digital token, such as in particular an identifier of said second digital token.

4. A management method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the smart contract is configured such that: - the transfer of ownership of the first digital token involves the transfer of ownership of the second digital token and / or the transfer of ownership of the third digital token, and / or - the transfer of ownership of the second digital token involves the transfer of ownership of the first digital token and / or the transfer of ownership of the third digital token, and / or -Transferring the ownership of the third digital token involves transferring the ownership of the first digital token and / or transferring the ownership of the second digital token.

5. A management method according to any one of the aforementioned authority requirements, wherein the first digital token and / or the second digital token are associated with a digital wallet, in particular, are associated with the same digital wallet.

6. The management method according to claim 5, wherein the digital wallet or one of the digital wallets is associated with: - a public key, or - a code (4) associated with said public key, The public key or code is written in: - on the object, in particular on a part (2) of a timepiece (1), in particular on a barrel (2) of the timepiece (1) or on a ratchet (3) of the barrel (2), or - on a tangible medium sold with the object, or - in a digital document, such as a computer file, or in a message, in particular an MMS or SMS.

7. The management method according to claim 6, wherein the public key or the code associated with the public key is written by printing, engraving or sticking a label.

8. A management method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the code associated with the public key is a machine-readable code, such as an NFC tag or a barcode, in particular a matrix code or a QR code.

9. A management method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the digital wallet or one of the digital wallets is associated with: - Private key, or - a code associated with said private key, The private key or the code associated with the private key is written in: - a tangible medium attached to said object, in particular a card, a label or a physical document, and / or - in a digital document, such as a computer file, or in a message, in particular an MMS or SMS.

10. The management method according to claim 9, wherein the code associated with the private key is a machine-readable code, such as a barcode, in particular such as an NFC tag or such as a matrix code or a QR code.

11. Use of an object (1) or a tangible medium and / or an accessory attached to said object, in particular a timepiece, in particular a barrel (2) of a timepiece (1) or a ratchet (3) of a barrel (2) as a medium for a public key of a digital wallet or a code associated with a public key.

12. A device allowing management of rights associated with an object (1), in particular a distributed computing architecture, the device comprising hardware and / or software elements for implementing a method according to any one of the permission requirements 1 to 10, in particular hardware and / or software elements designed to implement a method according to any one of the permission requirements 1 to 10.

13. A computer program product, comprising program code instructions recorded on a computer-readable medium, wherein the program code instructions are used to implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10 when the program is run on a computer.

14. A computer-readable data recording medium having a computer program recorded thereon, the computer program comprising program code instructions for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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