METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESS TRACKING AND / OR PROCESS AUDIT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method and a system for tracking and / or checking processes.

[0002] The production and, where applicable, storage of products bearing a quality seal are subject to certain quality requirements that must be verified by an authority, a testing institute, an end customer, or similar, to guarantee that the products meet the quality requirements.

[0003] The production of a product can extend across multiple facilities in a supply chain, making verification of quality requirements time-consuming and costly. Therefore, it is often only possible to verify quality requirements at longer intervals to keep the effort of quality verification within reasonable limits. Inspection at longer intervals is equivalent to a snapshot in time. A further problem is that random inspections cannot fully verify the process, but only selectively at the times when the inspection is performed. Such an inspection does not allow any conclusions to be drawn as to whether the quality requirements are being met in the long term.

[0004] Another example of process tracking and / or process auditing is process tracking for the creation of a CO2 certificate. This requires, for example, determining the amount of CO2 emitted during the production of a product, particularly an agricultural product.

[0005] The document EP 3 300 206 A1 discloses an energy supply system and a method for operating an energy supply system.

[0006] The disadvantage is that a random check only carries a high risk of manipulation, since the process is only checked in one or more limited time windows and it cannot be guaranteed that the process is carried out in the same way outside of these time windows.

[0007] Based on this, it is the object of the invention to provide a method for tracking and / or checking processes that enables automated process tracking or checking with a high level of verification security and a low risk of compromising the verification process.

[0008] This object is achieved by a method according to the features of independent patent claim 1. Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims. A system for tracking and / or reviewing processes is the subject of independent patent claim 15.

[0009] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a method for process tracking and / or process verification based on at least one smart meter gateway network comprising a plurality of smart meter gateways. The method comprises the following steps: First, a smart meter gateway network is provided. At least one smart meter gateway of the smart meter gateway network has a unique identifier that uniquely identifies the smart meter gateway. Preferably, all smart meter gateways of the smart meter gateway network each have a unique identifier.

[0010] Subsequently, an association is created between the smart meter gateway's identifier and at least one identity, where the identity specifies a person or an object. For example, the owner of a farm can be defined as an identity, and their identity can be associated with the smart meter gateway's identifier. This creates a clear correlation between a smart meter gateway and the identity. Preferably, the smart meter gateway is also physically associated with the identity. This means, in particular, that the smart meter gateway is installed at a location associated with the respective identity. "Associated" can, in particular, mean that the identity works, lives, is active, etc., there.

[0011] Furthermore, at least one smart contract is provided, which is assigned to the process to be tracked and / or verified and contains test criteria for process tracking and / or process verification. In other words, the smart contract contains specifications that are checked during process tracking and / or process verification. In particular, the smart contract can contain decision rules based on which it is possible to verify whether certain quality criteria have been met. For example, using one or more interconnected smart contracts, it can be verified whether, for example, quality criteria that apply to the awarding of a quality seal (e.g., food quality seals such as organic certification, animal welfare, etc.) have been met or not.

[0012] As a further step in the process, a smart meter gateway, which is part of the smart meter gateway network, receives process information that characterizes a process. The process information can be any information generated during the process, for example, information about identity activities, measurement information, information regarding documents (written or digital), such as delivery notes, invoices, measurement logs, etc. The process information can, in particular, be primary process information or secondary process information. "Primary process information" refers to raw process data that is generated directly during a process, for example, measurement data from a sensor, scanned documents, etc."Secondary process information" refers to process information that is derived from primary process information, for example by further processing the primary process information.

[0013] The received process information or information derived from it (e.g., obtained through any type of further processing) is stored in a storage unit. The process information can be stored either directly in the blockchain or in a storage unit outside of a blockchain. It is also generally possible to store a first portion of process information in the blockchain and a second portion of process information outside of the blockchain. The received process information is stored with reference to the identity of the person or object. This means, in particular, that the process information is assigned to the identity of the person or object, so that it is clearly defined that the process information originates from the respective identity or that the storage of this information was initiated by this identity.For example, an employee of a farm can send the receipt of a specific type of feed as process information, stating his identity, to the smart meter gateway network for storage.

[0014] Additional identities may also be involved in storing process information, for example, an identity assigned to a sensor based on which the delivery receipt was recorded or an identity assigned to a fill level sensor of the feed silo in which the delivered feed is stored. The process information of these additional identities can also be sent to the smart meter gateway network for storage, along with their identity.

[0015] As a further step, at least a portion of the stored process information is processed using the smart contract, whereby the smart contract provides process tracking and / or process verification information. "Processing" here means that at least a portion of the stored process information is evaluated (e.g., by comparing it with target values ​​or target value ranges) and / or aggregated (i.e., multiple values ​​are linked together or further processed to form information derived from them). The process tracking and / or process verification information is provided as a result of the processing.

[0016] Finally, the process is assessed based on the process tracking and / or process verification information. This can be done by one or more smart contracts, by another data processing system, or by human assessment.

[0017] The method according to the invention offers the technical advantage that the provision of process tracking and / or process verification information can be automated, ensuring a high level of authenticity and repetition frequency of the process tracking or verification.

[0018] With regard to further technical details of the smart meter gateway, reference is made to the technical guideline of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) TR-03109-1, Version 1.0, which is incorporated in its entirety into the present disclosure.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the smart meter gateway that receives the process information is assigned a plurality of identities that are linked to one another by identity relationships. The identity relationships indicate, for example, that and / or how the plurality of identities are related to one another. The plurality of identities can be related to one another, for example, via a tree-like identity structure. As a result, an identity hierarchy is clearly defined via the identity relationships, and process information that is assigned to an identity (e.g., employee on a farm) at a lower hierarchical level can also be linked to an identity that is assigned to a higher hierarchical level (e.g., owner of a farm).

[0020] According to one embodiment, the identities and their identity relationships are stored in a chain of cryptographically linked data records (i.e., in a blockchain) in a smart meter gateway network. In particular, the identities and their identity relationships are specified in at least one smart contract, with this at least one smart contract being stored in a chain of cryptographically linked data records (i.e., in a blockchain) in a computer network. This ensures that the identities and their relationships are stored securely and in a way that prevents them from being compromised.

[0021] According to one embodiment, a cryptographic key is assigned to the at least one identity. The cryptographic key can, for example, be a key pair of an asymmetric encryption method, i.e., comprise a public and a private key. The received process information or information derived therefrom is stored with reference to the identity of the person or object by encrypting the process information to be stored based on the cryptographic key of the identity. Preferably, the identity is uniquely defined by the cryptographic key, so that encrypting the process information with the cryptographic key simultaneously assigns the process information to be stored to the identity.

[0022] According to one embodiment, at least one of the plurality of identities is assigned administrator rights to manage access rights to the stored process information. Access rights in this case specifically mean read access. Modification (e.g., through write access) of information already stored in the blockchain is not possible. This allows access rights to the stored process information to be granted as needed.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the process information is stored in encrypted form in a storage unit, wherein the storage is at least partially not carried out directly in a chain of cryptographically linked data records (i.e., the blockchain). However, to document the integrity of the stored process information, a reduced data record of this process information, generated by a hash algorithm, is stored in a chain of cryptographically linked data records.

[0024] Alternatively, it is possible—especially for smaller amounts of data—to store the process information directly in a chain of cryptographically linked data records (i.e., the blockchain). This chain of cryptographically linked data records is preferably hosted in the smart meter gateway network.

[0025] Alternatively, it is possible for the process information to be stored, depending on the need or the amount of information generated, either in a chain of cryptographically linked data records or in a storage unit (connected to a reduced-information storage in the blockchain). In other words, parts of the process information can be stored directly in the blockchain, while other parts are stored in the blockchain only after information reduction, for example, using a hash algorithm.

[0026] According to one embodiment, documents characterizing the process are stored as process information, specifically with an association with the identity of the person or object. "Documents" are understood to include both scanned documents and sets of digital data containing a set of information with a multitude of individual pieces of information. This makes it possible to use information such as delivery notes, invoices, test reports, test certificates, and / or product data sheets for process tracking and / or verification.

[0027] According to one embodiment, for process tracking and / or process verification, the smart contract checks whether one or more conditions are met based on the stored process information, and the result of this check is provided as process tracking and / or process verification information. During this process tracking and / or process verification, the stored process information itself is not visible to the persons, objects, and / or smart contracts that receive the process tracking and / or process verification information.

[0028] In other words, when providing process tracking and / or process verification information, there is no direct access to the stored process information, but rather only indirect read access via the smart contracts that process the stored process information. This ensures that no confidential primary information, such as information containing sensitive operational data, can be leaked without the consent of the data owner.

[0029] According to one embodiment, a chain of interacting smart contracts is used to provide process tracking and / or process verification information. The smart contracts can also interact dynamically and selectively, for example, in such a way that the interaction of the smart contracts depends on whether certain conditions are met. Thus, the interaction of a large number of smart contracts can also enable complex tracking and verification processes to be carried out, which, for example, extend across several different process partners involved in the process (e.g., feed supplier, agricultural company, dairy, etc.).

[0030] According to one embodiment, the chain of interacting smart contracts represents a supply chain of multiple process partners collaborating in an overall process. The smart contracts interact with each other in such a way that at least a first smart contract receives information from a second smart contract, which is located upstream of the first smart contract in the chain, and evaluates and / or further processes it. For example, the second smart contract provides process part tracking and / or process part verification information, which is further processed by the first smart contract. This ensures that process tracking or process verification across multiple process partners is possible without the process information having to be viewed directly.In other words, the smart contracts act as a filter between the process partners and ensure that the process information is not directly visible, but only information aggregated by the smart contracts.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the chain of interacting smart contracts combines process information from several different identities, to which identifiers of different smart meter gateways are assigned, into process tracking and / or process verification information. For example, three process partners can be represented by respective identities, and each of these identities is assigned a smart meter gateway with a specific identifier (e.g., feed supplier, agricultural business, dairy). By chaining the smart contracts, the process information required, for example, for a certain quality seal can be verified, so that it can be automatically determined whether the required quality criteria for the seal of approval have been met or not.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the process information is provided by several different technical devices (e.g., devices, sensors, measuring devices, etc.). The process information from the different technical devices is merged by one or more smart contracts. In other words, one or more smart contracts are used to aggregate information originating from different technical devices and to process it further in a suitable manner. For example, information from a first sensor that measures the movement of an animal (e.g., first animal welfare parameter) and information from a second sensor that measures the body temperature of the same animal (e.g.,second animal welfare parameter) are combined in a smart contract and further processed to determine whether the animal meets the requirements for a certain quality seal of food (milk, meat, etc.) derived from this animal or not.

[0033] According to one embodiment, substeps of the method are performed in different zones, in particular system zones, with each zone being assigned a smart meter gateway network comprising multiple smart meter gateways. The smart meter gateway networks of the individual zones comprise at least partially, preferably completely, different smart meter gateways. This allows the processes to be performed to be distributed across multiple different smart meter gateway networks with different hardware resources, so that the system requirements (e.g., with regard to processor performance and / or memory capacity) of the individual smart meter gateways can be limited.

[0034] According to one embodiment, at least one application in a chain of cryptographically linked data records is stored and / or hosted in a smart meter gateway network, wherein the application is an executable application, in particular one that can be run in the smart meter gateway network, that has access to the stored process information. By executing the application, an identity is provided with access to the stored process information on a terminal device depending on its access rights. Thus, the application by which the stored process information is made accessible is not stored directly on the terminal device; rather, the application is executed in the smart meter gateway network itself, and the terminal device serves merely as an output device for the process information.A "terminal device" can be any technical device that includes a display unit and is designed to output process information. Examples include stationary computers, laptops, tablet PCs, smartphones, etc.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the smart meter gateway network comprises multiple smart meter gateways installed at different locations. One smart meter gateway is preferably installed at the facility or in close proximity to the facility, while the other smart meter gateways are located separately from this facility, for example, at different power-generating or power-consuming facilities (e.g., houses, power plants, photovoltaic systems, commercial buildings, etc.).

[0036] According to one embodiment, the smart meter gateways of the smart meter gateway network are linked to each other by a cryptographically secured network connection. This ensures secure communication between the smart meter gateways of the smart meter gateway network.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the smart meter gateway network comprises a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism for determining whether a proposed data block, or which of the proposed data blocks, is incorporated into the chain of cryptographically linked data sets. A proof-of-stake consensus mechanism requires fewer computing resources to achieve consensus than a proof-of-work consensus mechanism. Since the computing power of the smart meter gateways is limited, consensus can be achieved in less time using a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. Alternatively, other consensus mechanisms can be used, for example, a proof-of-work consensus mechanism, a proof-of-identity consensus mechanism, or a proof-of-authority consensus mechanism.

[0038] According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a system for process tracking and / or process verification based on at least one smart meter gateway network comprising multiple smart meter gateways, wherein at least one smart meter gateway has a unique identifier. The system is designed to perform the following processes: Uniquely assigning the identifier of the smart meter gateway to at least one identity, wherein the identity specifies a person or an object; Providing at least one smart contract that is assigned to the process to be tracked and / or verified and contains test criteria for process tracking and / or process verification; Receiving process information that characterizes a process by at least one smart meter gateway, wherein the smart meter gateway is part of the smart meter gateway network; Storing the received process information or information derived therefrom in a storage unit, wherein the storage of the received process information takes place with reference to the identity of the person or object;Processing at least part of the stored process information using the smart contract, wherein the smart contract provides process tracking and / or process verification information; and outputting the process tracking and / or process verification information.

[0039] "Identity" in the sense of the present invention means one or more characteristics that can be used to identify a person, an object or an item.

[0040] A "smart contract" in the sense of the present invention is understood to be a computer protocol or processor-executable software that represents a contract. A smart contract, in particular, represents the logic of contractual provisions or specified criteria using technical means (in particular, suitable executable code).

[0041] An "enabled device" in the sense of the present invention is understood to mean a device that is assigned to an identity and is technically configured to establish a direct connection to the blockchain of the identity to which it is assigned via a network connection and to insert data into it or to initiate the insertion of data.

[0042] The terms "approximately", "substantially" or "about" mean, in the sense of the invention, deviations from the exact value by + / - 10%, preferably by + / - 5% and / or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant for the function.

[0043] Further developments, advantages, and possible applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. All described and / or illustrated features, individually or in any combination, are fundamentally part of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their reference back to them. The content of the claims is also incorporated into the description.

[0044] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the figures. They show: Fig. 1 shows, by way of example, a schematic representation of a facility in the form of an agricultural holding coupled to a measuring sensor and a smart meter gateway; Fig. 2 shows, by way of example, a schematic representation of a facility in the form of an agricultural holding whose smart meter gateway is integrated into a smart meter gateway network; Fig. 3 shows, by way of example, an identity tree that indicates how different identities are linked to one another via identity relationships; Fig. 4 shows, by way of example, a system divided into several zones and comprising several smart meter gateway networks that are linked to one another for the exchange of information via a network; Fig. 5 shows, by way of example and schematically, a representation illustrating information flows and the interaction of the components of the system according to the invention when monitoring quality criteria of a quality seal; and Fig.6 is an example of a flowchart illustrating the steps of a method for process tracking and / or process verification.

[0045] In Figure 1 Shown is a schematic example of a smart meter gateway 2 coupled to a measuring sensor 5. The gateway receives measurement data from the measuring sensor 5, for example, an electricity meter, stores it, and, if necessary, processes it in order to forward the measurement data or information derived therefrom (for example, by further processing the measurement data) to an information recipient. Such information recipients can be, for example, a billing center, a utility company, etc. Thus, the smart meter gateway 2 forms a gateway for the external communication of the measuring sensor 5.

[0046] The smart meter gateway 2 is preferably located in close proximity to the measuring sensor 5. The smart meter gateway 2 can, for example, be provided at a point of consumption, in particular a building, in which the measuring sensor 5 is also located. Alternatively, the measuring sensor 5 and the smart meter gateway 2 can be assigned to an energy-generating system in order to determine the energy generated by the system and to communicate information about this generated energy to the outside.

[0047] The smart meter gateway 2 has at least one processor 2.1 for performing computing operations and a memory unit 2.2 for storing data.

[0048] In the embodiment shown, an encapsulated area 6 is provided, which is Figure 1represented by a dotted rectangle. This encapsulated area 6 forms a so-called "sandbox," i.e., an isolated area such that the computing and storage processes in this encapsulated area 6 have no impact on the other processes (e.g., acquisition and evaluation of measurement data) that are processed outside of the encapsulated area 6 by the smart meter gateway 2.

[0049] In particular, a processor area 2.1.1 of the processor 2.1 and a memory area 2.2.1 of the memory unit 2.2 can be assigned to the encapsulated area 6, so that the encapsulated area 6 essentially accesses the same hardware that is also used for the other processes processed in the smart meter gateway 2 (e.g., acquisition and evaluation of measurement data). However, a virtual separation is achieved by, for example, assigning a different processor area 2.1.1 (e.g., a processor core of a multi-core processor) and a different memory area 2.2.1 (different memory addresses) to the encapsulated area 6 than to the other processes processed in the smart meter gateway 2. In other words, a virtual encapsulation for the processes for process tracking and / or process verification is achieved.

[0050] Alternatively, the encapsulated area 6 can have its own processor and its own memory unit, to which the other processes processed in the smart meter gateway 2 (for example, recording and evaluation of measurement data) have no access, so that a physical separation is achieved instead of a virtual separation.

[0051] For example, the encapsulated area 6 can be designed as a plug-in module and coupled to the smart meter gateway 2 by plugging it in for the exchange of information. The exchange of information via the interface is preferably encrypted. Furthermore, the exchange of information preferably takes place via a HAN / CLS interface (HAN: Home Area Network; CLS: Controllable Local System). Plugging it in can preferably also ensure the energy supply to the module. Preferably, authentication of the plug-in module to the smart meter gateway 2 also takes place. Furthermore, plugging it in preferably also achieves the mechanical fixation of the module to the smart meter gateway 2. The interface for supplying the module with information and energy can in particular be formed by an elongated contact strip.

[0052] The encapsulated module can provide a TCP / IP-based interface through which third-party devices can be coupled to the smart meter gateway 2. In particular, this TCP / IP-based interface can be used to combine multiple smart meter gateways 2 located at different locations into a smart meter gateway network N to perform transactions.

[0053] Depending on the configuration of the smart meter gateway 2, the encapsulated area 6 can also receive measurement data or information derived from measurement data. This can be achieved, for example, via an internal data exchange in the smart meter gateway 2 between the encapsulated area 6 and an area virtually or physically separated from the encapsulated area 6. Direct access to memory areas in which the measurement data or information derived from measurement data is stored is preferably not possible from the encapsulated area 6.

[0054] Furthermore, the smart meter gateway 2 has a communication interface 2.3 via which data can be sent and received by the smart meter gateway 2.

[0055] Fig. 2shows, by way of example and schematically, the integration of the smart meter gateway 2, which is coupled to a device 10 that consumes and / or generates energy, in particular electricity, into a smart meter gateway network N. The device 10 can, for example, be an agricultural operation whose processes are to be at least partially monitored or tracked. It is understood, however, that the invention is not limited to this application and can be used in a variety of other scenarios for tracking or monitoring processes (e.g., industrial processes). The smart meter gateway network N comprises a plurality of smart meter gateways 2 that are installed at different locations, wherein one of the smart meter gateways 2 is coupled to the device 10 for recording the energy, in particular electricity, generated or consumed by the device.The other smart meter gateways 2 are coupled to further measuring sensors 5, for example, to electricity meters in houses, businesses, or other energy generation plants. The smart meter gateways 2 of the smart meter gateway network N are interconnected via a secure network connection so that they can exchange data with each other. The smart meter gateway network N is designed in particular as a so-called blockchain network, i.e., the smart meter gateways 2 of the smart meter gateway network N each store a chain of cryptographically linked data records (so-called blockchain). Furthermore, the smart meter gateways 2 are designed, as previously described, to calculate data records to be integrated into the blockchain.Preferably, data records to be included in the blockchain are calculated in parallel by multiple smart meter gateways 2, and a consensus mechanism is used to decide which of the multitude of generated data records will be included in the blockchain. The smart meter gateway network N preferably uses a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism to achieve a consensus that saves computing resources compared to a proof-of-work consensus.

[0056] The smart meter gateway 2 of facility 10 has a unique identifier. This identifier is, for example, an ID assigned to the smart meter gateway 2. This identifier or ID can be used to uniquely identify the smart meter gateway 2. At least one identity is assigned to this identifier or ID. This identity can be, for example, the owner, proprietor, or managing director of facility 10, or another person.

[0057] Preferably, multiple identities are assigned to the smart meter gateway 2 of the device 10. These multiple identities can be interconnected via identity relationships. These identity relationships can, in particular, have a tree-like structure. Fig. 3shows, by way of example, the identity relationships between multiple identities using a structural design. Starting from facility 10, in the illustrated embodiment an agricultural business, with the smart meter gateway 2, to whose identifier or ID the further identities are assigned, in the illustrated embodiment, for example, the identity 3 of the owner or managing director of the business follows. This, in turn, is assigned a plurality of identities via identity relationships, for example one or more employees 3.1, one or more animals 3.2 of the business and / or one or more machines 3.3. Through the identity relationships, all identities assigned to facility 10 are thus linked to the unique identifier of the smart meter gateway 2, so that all processes in which the identities 3, 3.1-3.3 can be clearly assigned to the smart meter gateway and / or the device 10 in which the smart meter gateway is installed.

[0058] Preferably, each identity, i.e., for example, each employee 3.1, each animal 3.2 of a herd to be monitored, and / or each machine 3.3 involved in a process to be monitored, is assigned a separate cryptographic key. The key may, in particular, comprise a key pair consisting of a public and a private key.

[0059] Using the cryptographic key, the identities can send process information to the smart meter gateway network N or to a storage unit, and this process information can be stored in encrypted form using the cryptographic key. Due to the identity relationships between the identities and the assignment of these identities to the facility 10, the stored process information of all identities connected by the identity relationships can be uniquely assigned to the facility 10. For example, it is possible to determine which process steps were performed by an employee 3.1 or a machine 3.3 of the facility 10.

[0060] The animals 3.2 can, for example, have one or more sensors that collect information and transmit it via a network to the storage unit for storage. The sensors can, for example, record the animal's body temperature, movement behavior, lying and standing times, drinking behavior, etc. This information can be signed and encrypted using the respective animal's cryptographic key, and thus stored in a uniquely assigned manner.

[0061] At least one of the multiple identities can be granted administrator rights. These administrator rights allow the identity to view and / or manage the process information generated by it or other identities with which it is linked via identity relationships.

[0062] The identities assigned to a device 10 and their identity relationships are preferably stored in a chain of cryptographically linked data records, i.e., the blockchain. This prevents the identities and their identity relationships from being compromised.

[0063] The process information can be stored either directly in the chain of cryptographically linked data records, i.e., the blockchain. Alternatively, the process information can be stored in a storage unit, encrypted using the cryptographic key assigned to the respective identity. This storage unit, for example, does not store the process information in a blockchain. To ensure non-compromising storage in this case, a reduced data set of the stored process information, generated by a hash algorithm, can be stored in a chain of cryptographically linked data records, i.e., the blockchain, after each storage process or at regular or irregular intervals.This makes it possible to ensure that the stored process information is not manipulated, even when large amounts of data are generated.

[0064] Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of a system 1 for process tracking and / or process verification in more detail. The system 1 comprises several smart meter gateway networks N, each of which comprises several smart meter gateways 2 in order to host a blockchain in the respective smart meter gateway network N, as described above, and to be able to write data into the blockchain based on a consensus mechanism. Across the plurality of smart meter gateway networks N, the system 1 is divided into several zones, which are Figure 4 designated as zones Z1 - Z6.

[0065] Different tasks can be performed in zones Z1–Z6 and / or different information can be stored in the blockchain they host. Zones Z1–Z6 are connected to each other via a network (NW) and can exchange data securely via this network. By dividing System 1 into multiple zones, the system's performance can be increased, particularly with regard to response times, the amount of data to be stored in the blockchain, and / or computing capacity.

[0066] Each smart meter gateway 2 can be assigned to exactly one smart meter gateway network N and thus to one zone Z1 - Z6. Alternatively, a smart meter gateway 2 can be assigned to multiple smart meter gateway networks N and thus to multiple smart meter gateway networks N. Thus, a smart meter gateway 2 can perform tasks in multiple zones Z1 - Z6 (so-called slicing).

[0067] The following examples describe which tasks can be performed by each zone.

[0068] A first zone can, for example, be used to store information about the previously described identities 3 and their identity relationships to one another. This first zone can be referred to as the identity zone. This zone can, in particular, provide functionalities by which new identities can be added, deleted, or modified, and by which identity relationships to the other identities can be defined. This first zone can also define the type of a particular identity (e.g., employee, machine, vehicle, animal, etc.) and the rights assigned to the respective identity, such as read rights, write rights, administrator rights, etc.

[0069] As previously described, each identity is assigned a cryptographic key, specifically a key pair consisting of a public and a private key. This cryptographic key can be used to grant the identity access to the system and at least parts of the information stored therein. Furthermore, the identity can use this cryptographic key to sign information and / or conduct transactions.

[0070] A second zone can form an application zone in which one or more applications are stored. In particular, the applications can be stored on the smart meter gateways 2 of the smart meter gateway network N, preferably in packets that are integrated into the blockchain. In this second zone, in particular, an application can be provided through which an identity 3, 3.1 - 3.3 can access information of the system 1. The application can, in particular, also be executable in the second zone or its smart meter gateway network N.

[0071] The advantage of the second zone as an application zone, in which one or more applications are stored, is that the applications are not executed on a terminal device, such as a mobile, portable device such as a laptop, a smartphone, or a tablet computer, but rather in the smart meter gateway network N. The terminal device preferably functions merely as a display instrument for the information to be displayed. In other words, the information to be displayed is preferably read directly from the blockchain and displayed on the terminal device. This can increase the security of system 1 and reduce the manipulation of the system and its stored information by compromised applications.

[0072] A third zone can function as a document zone. The document zone is preferably used to secure and / or store documents that are important for process tracking or process verification. These can be, for example, delivery notes, quality documents, data sheets, etc. The document zone preferably uses distributed ledger technology, i.e., it is designed as a cluster of a distributed ledger. With distributed ledger technology, several equal copies of the ledger are preferably held decentralized by several smart meter gateways 2 of the smart meter gateway network that forms the document zone. The document zone is designed to ensure that newly added documents are adopted in all copies of the ledger (i.e., the document collection) and that consensus is reached on the current status of the ledger.Alternatively, it is also possible for the documents to be stored in a blockchain in the document zone.

[0073] The document zone can provide, for example, the following functionalities: In the document zone, documents assigned to the respective institution 10 or an identity 3 can be digitally stored. Furthermore, document verification can take place, for example, in the form of a format check or a content review. Furthermore, one or more document properties can be assigned to each document, such as document release information, read and / or write permissions, validity period information, etc. Furthermore, additional information can be stored for the individual documents, such as read confirmation information and / or information regarding the access and reading history of the respective document.

[0074] The documents can be captured, for example, using a scanner or other image-capturing device and integrated into the document zone as a digital file.

[0075] Another zone can be configured as a supply chain zone. This supply chain zone makes it possible to map a supply chain that extends across multiple facilities (e.g., feed manufacturer, farmer, dairy, etc.) and to monitor and track the entire process (e.g., production of milk with a quality seal) that takes place across these multiple facilities.

[0076] The supply chain zone preferably uses multiple, interconnected smart contracts to monitor and track the entire process. The information provided by a smart contract can be received, evaluated, and, if necessary, further processed by one or more higher-level smart contracts to ensure that certain criteria have been met throughout the entire process.

[0077] For example, a first smart contract assigned to the feed manufacturer can be used to verify that the feed supplied by the manufacturer meets certain quality criteria (e.g., organically certified feed). A second smart contract assigned to the farmer can be used to verify whether the farmer has used a certain feed from the feed manufacturer and whether the animals have been kept according to certain husbandry criteria. A third smart contract assigned to the dairy can be used to verify whether the milk purchased by the farmer has been further processed according to certain criteria.

[0078] A fourth smart contract, which is superior to the first to third smart contracts, can be designed to receive the information provided by the first to third smart contracts, to process it if necessary, and to check whether certain criteria, for example criteria of a quality seal, have been met within the supply chain.

[0079] The Supply Chain Zone can provide the following functionalities, for example: For example, actors within a supply chain can be dynamically assigned to one another and managed, for example, by defining a predecessor and / or successor for a specific participant. Supply chains can also be visualized and the relationships between the participants in the supply chain (who delivers what to whom) can be represented, for example, using graphical representations.

[0080] In addition, based on the supply chain zone, information related to the respective facility 10 or its identities 3 can be displayed, for example, the material flow within a supply chain or supply chain losses. This information can also be compiled via multiple interacting smart contracts.

[0081] Information can also be compiled based on the supply chain zone and preferably presented chronologically. This information can, for example, indicate who performed which action in the supply chain at what time. This information can then be presented chronologically, for example, using a timeline.

[0082] The linking of multiple smart contracts in the supply chain zone is preferably designed in such a way that, for process tracking and / or verification, it is not necessary for the individual primary information generated and stored by the respective participants in the supply chain to be individually monitored by inspection personnel. Instead, the smart contracts used for process tracking and / or verification access the information automatically and check whether certain conditions (e.g., conditions for achieving a quality seal) have been met in the supply chain. For example, the linked smart contracts provide information as a verification result indicating whether a set of conditions has been met or not (in particular, binary yes / no information). This ensures that no third parties have access to the process data of the individual participants or institutions 10.

[0083] The smart contracts of the supply chain zone and their interconnection are preferably provided by a trusted institution, such as a certification authority or an auditing authority.

[0084] Another zone can be a device zone. In this device zone, devices used to obtain process information can be managed and / or activated. For example, it is possible to specify the connection properties of a device, the information obtained by the device, and how the information is to be further processed.

[0085] For example, the device zone can be used to specify which identity the information generated by a device should be assigned to and / or whether the data from the device should be written directly to the blockchain or a storage unit, or whether it should be forwarded to another network component (so-called edge device). Devices that can write directly to the blockchain associated with an identity are referred to as "enabled devices."

[0086] Preferably, the visibility of information obtained by a device can be determined by the identity to which the device is associated.

[0087] The device zone may, for example, also include one or more smart contracts that aggregate information and / or further process the information.

[0088] The smart contracts themselves are preferably stored in the blockchain in order to transparently demonstrate to authorities, supply chain participants, end consumers, etc. how and according to which scheme information is evaluated in order to be able to trace its modification and prevent its unauthorized manipulation.

[0089] Several zones and the functionalities covered by them were described above. It is understood that two or more functionalities previously described in connection with different zones can also be implemented in a common zone formed by a smart meter gateway network.

[0090] An exemplary embodiment of a method for process tracking and / or verification is described in more detail below.

[0091] Fig. 5shows schematically and as an example a process to be checked for the production of milk that is provided with a specific GS quality seal.

[0092] To verify whether the criteria for awarding the GS quality seal are met, the previously described process tracking and / or verification procedure is used. Several smart meter gateway networks N are used in the system, with each smart meter gateway network N assigned to a zone Z1 - Z5. Zone Z1, for example, forms the identification zone, zone Z2, for example, the application zone, zone Z3, for example, the document zone, zone Z4, for example, the supply chain zone, and zone Z5, for example, the device zone.

[0093] Furthermore, the system features several smart contracts. 4 In particular, smart contracts are provided for verifying the GS quality seal criteria. For example, a testing center or a higher-level government agency that awards the GS quality seal defines the content of these smart contracts, which can also be audited by an authority or government organization. By storing the smart contracts in the blockchain, they cannot be compromised after they have been reviewed and created. Furthermore, the underlying parameters of the decision criteria are, preferably, visible to all external participants at any time. These smart contracts enable automated testing of the defined testing criteria. Testing by testing personnel, for example in the form of random samples, is thus no longer necessary, as testing takes place automatically within the system either continuously, quasi-continuously, or at closely spaced intervals.

[0094] The farmer or their employee are defined as identities 3 and 3.1 in the Ident Zone. Likewise, the animals can each be created as identity 3.2. These identities can, for example, sign transactions. For example, the farmer or their employee can sign the receipt of feed as a transaction, which leads to data being saved with reference to their identity. The animals can, for example, be equipped with sensors that provide data about the respective animal (e.g., lying or standing, animal in the stable or outside, body temperature, etc.). This data can also be saved with reference to the animal's identity. As previously described, data is saved encrypted using a cryptographic key for the respective identity, so that the saved data can be uniquely assigned to an identity.

[0095] Documents related to the respective process are stored in the document zone. These can be, for example, feed test reports (PB), delivery notes (LS), invoices, or laboratory reports (LB), for example, samples of delivered milk, etc.

[0096] One or more smart contracts 4 are assigned to the supply chain zone, which map the milk supply chain and link the stored data. The supply chain zone can link data across multiple facilities 10, for example, data from the farmer's farm, the feed supplier, the dairy, etc. For example, data from different facilities 10 can be consolidated via the supply chain zone, such as information about the type of feed used, animal husbandry on the farm, milk processing in the dairy, etc.

[0097] An organization that awards the GS quality seal can then use one or more smart contracts, especially multiple interconnected smart contracts, to verify whether the quality criteria underlying the GS quality seal have been met, not only within the agricultural operation but across multiple participating entities in the supply chain. To this end, the smart contracts each provide results that either directly correspond to a test criterion, or a smart contract forwards one or more results to a higher-level smart contract, which receives this result and subsequently processes it further. This makes it possible to automatically verify the quality criteria underlying a GS quality seal without auditors having to directly access the information stored by the participating entities in the supply chain.

[0098] Fig. 6shows schematically the procedural steps of a process tracking and / or process review procedure.

[0099] First, a smart meter gateway network is provided, wherein at least one smart meter gateway, preferably all smart meter gateways, have a unique identifier (S10).

[0100] The identifier of the smart meter gateway is then uniquely assigned to at least one identity, where the identity specifies a person or an object (S11).

[0101] In addition, at least one smart contract is provided which is assigned to the process to be tracked and / or verified and contains test criteria for process tracking and / or process verification (S12).

[0102] Furthermore, process information characterizing a process is received by at least one smart meter gateway, wherein the smart meter gateway is part of the smart meter gateway network (S13).

[0103] The received process information or information derived therefrom is stored in a storage unit (S14), wherein the storage of the received process information is carried out with reference to the identity of the person or object.

[0104] Subsequently, at least part of the stored process information is processed by means of the smart contract, whereby the smart contract provides process tracking and / or process verification information as a result of the processing (S15).

[0105] Finally, the process is assessed based on the process tracking and / or process review information (S16).

[0106] The invention has been described above using exemplary embodiments. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. List of reference symbols

[0107] 1System 2Smart Meter Gateway 2.1Processor 2.1.1Processor area 2.2Storage unit 2.2.1Storage area 2.3Communication interface 3Identity 3.1Employee 3.2Animal 3.3Machine 4Smart contract 5Measuring sensor 6Encapsulated area 10Facility LBLaboratory report LSDelivery note NSmart Meter Gateway Network NWNetwork PBTest report Z1 - Z6Zone

Claims

1. Method for process tracking and / or process verification on the basis of at least one smart meter gateway network (N) comprising a plurality of smart meter gateways (2), wherein the method comprises the following steps: - providing a smart meter gateway network (N), wherein at least one smart meter gateway (2) comprises a unique identifier, wherein the smart meter gateway network (N) is designed as a blockchain network, wherein the smart meter gateways (2) of the smart meter gateway network (N) each store a blockchain, and wherein the smart meter gateways (2) are configured to calculate data sets to be integrated into the blockchain (S10); - creating a unique assignment between the identifier of the smart meter gateway (2) and at least one identity (3), wherein the identity (3) specifies a person or an object (S11); - storing at least one smart contract (4) in a blockchain, wherein the at least one smart contract (4) is assigned to the process to be tracked and / or verified and contains test criteria for process tracking and / or process verification (S12); - receiving process information characterizing a process by at least one smart meter gateway (2), wherein the smart meter gateway (2) is part of the smart meter gateway network (N) (S13); - storing the received process information or information derived therefrom in a storage unit (S14), wherein the received process information is stored with reference to the identity (3) of the person or the object; - processing at least part of the stored process information by means of the smart contract (S15), wherein the smart contract provides process tracking and / or process verification information; and - analyzing the process on the basis of the process tracking and / or process verification information by means of one or more smart contracts (S16).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of identities (3) are assigned to the smart meter gateway (2) receiving the process information, which identities are linked to one another by identity relationships.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the identities (3) and their identity relationships are stored in a chain of cryptographically interlinked data sets in a smart meter gateway network (N).

4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a cryptographic key is assigned to the at least one identity (3) and the received process information or information derived therefrom is stored with reference to the identity (3) of the person or the object by encrypting the process information to be stored on the basis of the cryptographic key of the identity (3).

5. Method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein at least one identity (3) of the plurality of identities is assigned administrator rights for administering the access rights to the stored process information.

6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the process information is stored in encrypted form in a storage unit, wherein the storage is at least partly not carried out in a chain of cryptographically interlinked data sets, and wherein, for the purpose of documenting the integrity of the stored process information, a reduced data set of this process information, generated by a hash algorithm, is stored in a chain of cryptographically interlinked data sets.

7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein documents characterizing the process are stored, namely by assignment to an identity (3) of the person or the object.

8. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, for the purpose of process tracking and / or process verification, the smart contract (4) checks, on the basis of the stored process information, whether one or more conditions are fulfilled, and the result of this verification is provided as process tracking and / or process verification information, wherein the stored process information itself is not visible during this process tracking and / or process verification to the persons, objects and / or smart contracts that receive the process tracking and / or process verification information.

9. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a chain of smart contracts (4) that interact with one another is used to provide the process tracking and / or process verification information.

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein the chain of smart contracts (4) that interact with one another represents a supply chain of a plurality of process partners cooperating in an overall process, wherein the smart contracts (4) interact with one another in such a way that at least a first smart contract (4) receives information from a second smart contract (4), which is arranged in the chain upstream of the first smart contract (4), and analyzes and / or further processes said information.

11. Method according to any one of claims 9 or 10, wherein process information from a plurality of different identities (3), to which identifiers of different smart meter gateways (2) are assigned, is combined into process tracking and / or process verification information by the chain of smart contracts (4) that interact with one another.

12. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the process information is provided by a plurality of different technical devices and the process information of the different technical devices is combined by one or more smart contracts (4).

13. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein partial steps of the method are carried out in different zones (Z1-Zn), wherein a smart meter gateway network (N) comprising a plurality of smart meter gateways (2) is assigned to each zone (Z1-Zn), and wherein the smart meter gateway networks (N) of the individual zones (Z1-Zn) have at least partially, preferably completely, different smart meter gateways (2).

14. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one application is stored in a chain of cryptographically interlinked data sets in a smart meter gateway network (N), wherein the application is an executable application which has access to the stored process information and wherein, by executing the application, an identity (3) is provided, depending on its access rights, with access to the stored process information at a terminal device.

15. System for process tracking and / or process verification on the basis of at least one smart meter gateway network (N) comprising a plurality of smart meter gateways (2), wherein the smart meter gateway network (N) is designed as a blockchain network, wherein the smart meter gateways (2) of the smart meter gateway network (N) each store a blockchain, wherein the smart meter gateways (2) are designed to calculate data sets to be integrated into the blockchain, wherein at least one smart meter gateway (2) comprises a unique identifier, wherein the system (1) is configured to carry out the following operations: - unique assignment of the identifier of the smart meter gateway (2) to at least one identity (3), wherein the identity (3) specifies a person or an object; - storing at least one smart contract in a blockchain, wherein the at least one smart contract is assigned to the process to be tracked and / or verified and contains test criteria for process tracking and / or process verification; - receiving process information characterizing a process by at least one smart meter gateway (2), wherein the smart meter gateway (2) is part of the smart meter gateway network (N); - storing the received process information or information derived therefrom in a storage unit, wherein the received process information is stored with reference to the identity (3) of the person or the object; - processing at least part of the stored process information by means of the smart contract (4), wherein the smart contract (4) provides process tracking and / or process verification information; and - analyzing the process on the basis of the process tracking and / or process verification information by means of one or more smart contracts.