METHOD AND PLATFORM FOR TRACKING AN ATTACHED DOCUMENT GENERATED BY A THIRD PARTY FROM AN ORIGINAL DOCUMENT USING A BLOCKCHAIN ​​SYSTEM

Description

[0001] [The present invention relates to the traceability of an annex document generated by a third party from an original document via a blockchain system.

[0002] It finds general application in the establishment of a traceability procedure with probative value for a document intended to be processed by several third parties, and more particularly during legalization procedures, or the application of an apostille by authorized authorities requiring verification of the authenticity of the documents and documents presented.

[0003] Here, processing of a document means any computer processing of a digital document belonging, but not limited to, to the group formed by translation, legalization, apostille, association of an attached document or other similar processing.

[0004] Generally speaking, the legalization / apostille procedure requires that a digital document be subjected to several validation stages, by different stakeholders / third parties of different nature including companies, associations, notaries, chambers of commerce, ministries of foreign affairs, consulates, town halls, sworn translators, and others.

[0005] Electronic signatures are often done independently of each other. Third parties signing documents are not necessarily aware of the previous or subsequent processing step, and a priori do not consult each other.

[0006] In addition, some processing is physically carried out on a document, and said document is scanned and added by the actor who performed the processing, which represents an additional difficulty in authentication with respect to a document of digital origin.

[0007] The greater the number of participants, the more difficult, if not impossible, it becomes to trace the life of the document in its entirety, and to prove that each of the processing stages has been carried out correctly.

[0008] The difficulty of traceability is all the greater when supporting documents must be attached to the initially tracked document, such as a translation or an attachment associated with an original document.

[0009] The difficulty of traceability is further compounded by the variety of technical standards applied to electronic signatures and the wide variety of software solution providers, most often incompatible with each other.

[0010] Indeed, when several actors have to sign the same document, with different electronic signature solutions can cause a compatibility problem between electronic signature software, such as the overwriting of previous signature(s) in the event of signature by different software, a posteriori signature, or signature of a third party to the contract.

[0011] In addition, sequential electronic signature by different actors presents difficulties of use such as the installation of electronic signature software locally, downloading the document, signing locally, and exporting the signed document.

[0012] Methods are already known for actively verifying the authenticity of a recorded document by analyzing said document and generating secure access associated with a transaction stored on a blockchain system. Document US 2019 / 356493 A1 describes such a method.

[0013] However, these prior art methods do not allow the traceability of the authenticity of the original document to be established after a series of processing operations by several separate third parties, nor do they allow the establishment of a control or means of proof when supporting documents such as translations or apostilles are attached by the third party to the original documents.

[0014] The present invention overcomes these drawbacks.

[0015] The invention is defined in claims 1 and 9, respectively. Particular embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. The invention relates to a method for traceability of an annex document generated by a third party from an original document via a blockchain system.

[0016] According to a general definition of the invention, the traceability method comprises the following steps: an initialization step comprising the recording and analysis of the original document to obtain initialization metadata comprising metadata intrinsic to the original document and extrinsic metadata comprising digital fingerprints of the original document, its content and metadata relating to the original document, the initialization metadata being deposited in a smart contract of the blockchain system; a processing step by the third party comprising the generation of the attached document by the third party, said attached document thus generated and the original document received by the third party for processing being both electronically signed by the third party who indicates the reference digital fingerprints of the reference document of which it is the attachment and of its content taken for signature;and a reception step from the third party comprising the recording and analysis of the original document and the attached document thus received signed from the third party to obtain reception data comprising intrinsic metadata of the original document and digital fingerprints of the received original document, the attached document and the reference document and their respective content as well as metadata relating to the original document and the attached document, the reception metadata being deposited in another smart contract of the blockchain system; a smart contract thus deposited after each initialization step and after each reception step, thus making it possible to constitute an audit trail and traceability of the attached document generated by the third party from the original document. ;

[0017] Thanks to the invention, the audit trail thus constituted, consolidated, time-stamped, and signed on a blockchain system, for example a public one, is accessible by competent authorities for verification and proof of the authenticity of the annex document generated by a third party from the original document, as well as the status of the original document at any point in the procedure (initialization, processing, and reception).

[0018] According to one embodiment, the method further comprises a step of sending the original document to the third party, the metadata intrinsic to the original document and the extrinsic metadata comprising the digital fingerprints of the original document, its content and metadata relating to the original document being deposited in a smart contract of the blockchain system.

[0019] Advantageously, the metadata thus obtained at each initialization, sending and receiving step is stored in a database to then be associated in a Merkle tree, the root hash of which is deposited in the blockchain system.

[0020] For example, intrinsic metadata belongs to the group formed by type, name, size, recording date, user ID.

[0021] In practice, digital fingerprints are calculated according to a chosen hash function, for example SHA 256.

[0022] According to another embodiment, the attached document belongs to the group formed by translated document, digital document containing a legalization, digital document including an apostille.

[0023] The invention also relates to a platform for the traceability of an attached document generated by a third party from an associated original document using an interactive tool via a blockchain system, for implementing the method according to the invention.

[0024] According to another aspect of the invention, the platform comprises: means for recording and analyzing the original document to obtain initialization metadata comprising metadata intrinsic to the original document and extrinsic metadata comprising digital fingerprints of the original document, its content and metadata related to the original document, means for receiving from the third party comprising means for recording and analyzing the original document and the attached document thus received signed from the third party to obtain reception data comprising intrinsic metadata of the original document and digital fingerprints of the received original document, the attached document and the reference document and their respective content as well as metadata related to the original document and the attached document; means for depositing the initialization metadata and the reception metadata in a respective smart contract of the blockchain system.

[0025] According to another embodiment of the invention, the platform comprises an application module capable of recording the document processing parameters desired by a user, capable of identifying at least one necessary processing, capable of selecting for each type of necessary processing at least one third party in each necessary database, and capable of allowing the recruitment of the next additional third party after processing and the recording of the document processed by the current third party.

[0026] The method according to the invention makes it possible to trace in its entirety the life of the original document and any associated annex or attachment document generated during one or more processing operations, and to prove the correct completion of each of the processing steps, while allowing the integration of multiple third parties in the processing chain, and resolving the problem of disparity of the standards used by each of the third parties.

[0027] Advantageously, the integration of the information targeted by the method according to the invention on a smart contract deposited on a blockchain system also allows the immobilization of the deposited information concerning the metadata of the documents, their digital fingerprints at any point in the processing cycle and thus guarantees the consolidation of the information forming the audit trail for the entities verifying the authenticity of the documents.

[0028] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear in light of the detailed description below and the drawings and tables in which: there [ Fig. 1 ] schematically describes the steps of the traceability process in accordance with the invention; [ Fig. 2 ] schematically describes a particular embodiment of the traceability method according to the invention; the [ Fig. 3 ]schematically describes the sub-steps of the initialization step according to the invention; the [ Fig. 4 ] schematically represents a particular example of the processing step according to the invention; the [ Fig. 5 ] ; schematically describes an embodiment of the data stored during the storage sub-steps on a block system of the method according to the invention; the [ Fig. 6 ] schematically describes a particular embodiment of the intrinsic metadata recovered during the implementation of the method according to the invention; [ Fig. 7 ] schematically describes the hardware architecture of the platform according to the invention; and the [ Fig. 8 ] schematically describes the functions of the application module of the platform in accordance with the invention.

[0029] In reference to the figures 1 to 5 ,the traceability method according to the invention comprises a succession of steps according to the following sequence: an initialization step sa aimed at analyzing, calculating, and recording the information of an original document D1 in a transaction on a blockchain system B to establish a first link in a traceability chain, a processing step S1, carried out by a third party 100, integrating the generation of an electronically signed original document, as well as an attached document DA associated with the signed original document D2, and a reception step S2 from the third party 100 comprising the recording and analysis of the documents D2, DA generated during the processing S1, and the calculation of corresponding electronic fingerprints to be stored in a blockchain system B.

[0030] In a first initialization step S0, a user saves a digital original document D1. The original document D1 is then analyzed to obtain data relating to its visible content, as well as initialization metadata.

[0031] In practice, data relating to visible content belongs, without limitation, to the group formed by text, image, digital object integrated into the D1 document, or similar data.

[0032] According to one embodiment of the invention, the sub-step of analyzing the original document D1 comprises text recognition processing, allowing the extraction in text form of any textual content recognized on the document.

[0033] As a non-limiting example, text recognition processing belongs to the group formed by Voice recognition for original audio and video type documents, OCR visual recognition for image type documents.

[0034] Among the metadata obtained, there are found metadata intrinsic to the original document D1 and metadata extrinsic to the original document D1.

[0035] The intrinsic metadata MID1 of the original document D1 belongs, without limitation, to the group formed by document name, size, electronic signature data, certificate, project identification, attachment object, procedure number.

[0036] As a non-limiting example, the intrinsic metadata of a document belongs to the group formed by document type, processing type, identity of the third-party signatory, electronic signature(s) and associated certificates, validity of the certificate(s) on the date of signature, title, author(s), company, date, location, source language, country of issue.

[0037] Alternatively, if the document is an annex document associated with a processed document, the intrinsic metadata belongs, without limitation, to the group formed by document type, destination language, destination country, function of third party 100, authority under which third party 100 operates, electronic signature(s) and associated certificates of third party 100, identity of the signatory third party(ies), electronic signature(s) and associated certificates, validity of the certificate(s) on the date of signature, title, date, place, nature of the seal or stamp.

[0038] The extrinsic metadata MED1 to the original document D1 are defined as the metadata generated by the application implementing the method according to the invention, and comprising at least the timestamp of the recording by the user, as well as the identifier of the user having recorded said original document D1.

[0039] According to a sub-step of the initialization step S0 of the method according to the invention, chosen digital fingerprints are calculated, said digital fingerprints defining metadata extrinsic to the original document D1 to be generated.

[0040] In practice, a chosen hash function is applied for calculating digital fingerprints.

[0041] For example, digital fingerprints are calculated using a SHA 256 hash function.

[0042] The calculation sub-step of the initialization step sa according to the invention comprises the calculation of the digital fingerprint of the original document HD1, the digital fingerprint HB1 of the analyzed content, as well as the digital fingerprint HM1 of the intrinsic metadata in relation to the original document D1.

[0043] According to a last sub-step of the initialization step S0, the digital fingerprints HD1, HB1, HM1 thus calculated, as well as the extracted intrinsic and generated extrinsic metadata are stored in a transaction via a smart contract B1, in a blockchain system B. [Tables 1] INITIAL UPLOAD Kind Original to be legalized Name KBIS SOCIETE PDF Size 17 KB Upload date 08 / 09 / 2020 à 11h10 IS User upload ABL HD1 3j4XH HB1 Lolp3 HM1 X059 Signature Data N / A Davron internal “PROJECT” ID 7

[0044] The traceability method according to the invention further comprises a processing step S1 by a third party 100.

[0045] Third party 100 means any actor authorized to carry out a chosen processing operation.

[0046] By way of non-limiting example, third party 100 may be a notary, a sworn translator, a national or foreign government entity, or any other similar actor, authorized to certify a document.

[0047] Processing is defined as any act of electronic signature of a document allowing the certification of said document by an authorized third party, as well as any other associated document generated.

[0048] By way of non-limiting example, the processing belongs to the group formed by the affixing of an electronic signature on an original document D1 by a sworn third party and the generation of an attached document DA associated with the original electronically signed document D2, the translation and signing of an original document D1 generating a translated attached document DA, the legalization or placing of an apostille on at least one document D1 to be processed.

[0049] In practice, the DA annex document belongs to the group formed by translated document, digital document containing a legalization, digital document including an apostille.

[0050] The electronic signature applied to the original document D1 and its attached document DA allow the integration of metadata intrinsic to the document including the signature data and the associated certificate(s). [Tables 2] •X509 certificate associated with the electronic signature Electronic signature data o Version Number -Date and time of signing o Serial Number o Signature Algorithm ID -Transaction ID o Issuer Name o Validity period -Status -Not Before -Signature type -Not After -Signature platform o Subject name o Subject Public Key Info -Public Key Algorithm -Subject Public Key o Issuer Unique Identifier (optional) o Subject Unique Identifier (optional) o Extensions (optional) •Certificate Signature Algorithm •Certificate Signature

[0051] The processing step S1 according to the invention further comprises the generation of an attached document DA by the third party 100, said attached document DA thus generated and the original document D1 are both electronically signed by the third party 100.

[0052] The attached document thus generated also includes the HRA reference digital fingerprints of the original D1 reference document to which the attached document is associated, as well as the HRBA digital fingerprint of the content of the original D1 document to which the attached DA document is associated taken for signature.

[0053] Once the processing has been carried out by the third party 100, the original signed document D2 and signed annex DA thus generated are received according to a reception step S2 via the application implementing the method according to the invention.

[0054] According to one embodiment of the invention, the processing step S1 comprises a sub-step of real-time analysis of the original document D1, D2 currently being processed / modified, and / or of the associated annex document DA currently being generated to obtain, for each document respectively, the intrinsic metadata of the document(s) currently being processed; and also the extrinsic metadata of the document(s) currently being processed / generated.

[0055] The processing step S1 further comprises a second sub-step of calculating the digital fingerprints of the document(s) being processed, and of its content according to one or more progress states of the processing carried out, as well as the digital fingerprints of the intrinsic metadata of the document(s) being processed / generated.

[0056] The processing step S1 further comprises a third sub-step of depositing in a smart contract (B1) of a blockchain system (B) the intrinsic metadata, and the extracted extrinsic metadata integrating the calculated digital fingerprints, and this iterated according to one or more progress states of the processing carried out on the document(s) subject to the processing step S1.

[0057] Advantageously, depositing metadata relating to a document being processed on a smart contract at several points during the processing phase also allows for real-time certification of the status of the document.

[0058] The method according to the invention comprises a reception step S2 from the third 100 of the documents generated by the processing step S1, and comprising a first sub-step of recording and parallel analysis of the original signed document D2 and the signed annex document DA thus received, making it possible to obtain the data relating to the visible content of said documents D2, DA, as well as the associated intrinsic metadata MID2, MIDA and extrinsic metadata MED2, MEDA.

[0059] The recording of the original signed D2 documents and the signed DA annex is time-stamped upon receipt, each time-stamp being integrated into the extrinsic MED2, MEDA metadata of each D2, DA document. [Tables 3] RECEIPT OF ORIGINAL DOCUMENT SIGNED Kind Original to be legalized Name KBIS SOCIETE PDF Size 17KB Upload date 09 / 09 / 2020 à 10h50 IS User upload ABL Declared origin DAVRON TRANSLATION Declarant User ID ABL HD2 98JI HB2 Lolp3 HM2 tDk8 Signature Data 08 / 09 / 20Certificate**DavronDeliveredbyChamberSignDatedutxx..... Etc... Davron internal “PROJECT” ID 7 [Tables 4] RECEIPT ANNEX DOCUMENT (TRANSLATION) Kind Appendix Name KBIS TRANSLATED INTO RUSSIAN Size 19 KB Upload date 09 / 09 / 2020 à 10h50 IS User upload ABL Declared origin DAVRON TRANSLATION Declarant User ID ABL HDA 5Hhu HBA PooT HMA 56jU HRA 98JI HRBA Lolp3 Signature Data 08 / 09 / 20Certificate**DavronDeliveredbyChamberSignDatedutxx..... Etc... Davron internal “PROJECT” ID 7

[0060] For the original signed D2 document, the intrinsic MID2 metadata are first extracted, including the name, size, as well as the associated electronic signature and certificate data.

[0061] According to a calculation sub-step of the reception step S2, the digital fingerprint of the original signed document HD2, the digital fingerprint HB2 of the content thus analyzed, as well as the digital fingerprint HM1 of the metadata intrinsic to the original signed document D2 are calculated, said fingerprints being integrated into the metadata extrinsic to the original signed document D2.

[0062] For the signed DA attachment document, the intrinsic MIDA metadata are extracted, including the name, size, and associated electronic signature and certificate data, as well as the HRA reference digital fingerprints of the D2 reference document to which the DA attachment document is associated, and the HRBA digital fingerprint of the content of the original D2 document to which the DA attachment document is associated.

[0063] According to a calculation sub-step of the reception step S2, the digital fingerprint of the signed annex document HDA, the digital fingerprint of the content of the annex document HBA, as well as the digital fingerprint of the intrinsic metadata collected from the annex document HMA are calculated, said fingerprints being integrated into the extrinsic metadata of the annex document DA.

[0064] Once the digital fingerprints of the original signed document D2 and the attached document DA have been calculated, the reception step S2 further comprises a storage sub-step via a transaction, implemented by a second smart contract B2, in the blockchain system (B), the second smart contract B2 comprising the generated intrinsic and extrinsic metadata of the original signed documents D2 and attached document DA. [Tables 5] Timestamp of document receipt Extrinsic Metadata Generation (MEDA) Saving the signed original file (D2) and the associated signed annex document (DA) Timestamp of document receipt Generation of extrinsic metadata (MED2) Attached Document (AD) Document analysis Original signed document -Metadata intrinsic to the document (MIDA) -Metadata intrinsic to the document (MID2) -Visible content of the attached document (AD) -Visible content of the original signed document (D2) Calculation of digital fingerprints: Calculation of original digital fingerprints Calculation of digital fingerprints: - of the attached document (HDA) - of the original signed document (HD2) - the content of the attached document (HBA) - the content of the original signed document (HB2) - Metadata collected from the attached document (HMA) - Metadata collected from the original signed document (HM2) Storage of metadata and digital fingerprints of the attached document, as well as digital fingerprints of the original signed document (D2) and the content of the original signed document (D2) associated with the attached document (DA) Storage via a transaction in a smart contract (B1) to a blockchain system (B) Storage of metadata and digital fingerprints of the original signed document, as well as the calculated digital fingerprints of the original signed document (D2) Table 5 schematically describes the sub-steps of the reception step according to the invention.

[0065] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the reception step S2, the metadata thus obtained at each initialization step S0, reception step S2 are stored in a database to then be associated in a Merkle tree, the root digital fingerprint of which is stored via a transaction in the blockchain system B.

[0066] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the storage sub-step of the reception step of the method according to the invention comprises a sub-step of checking the identity of the documents to be traced.

[0067] The control sub-step includes an initial comparison between the digital fingerprint of the content of the original document D1 and the digital fingerprint of the content of the signed original document D2. If this is positive, the documents are therefore identical.

[0068] The control sub-step further comprises a second comparison between the HRA reference digital fingerprints of the reference document D2 with which the annex document DA is associated and the digital fingerprint of the original signed document D2, as well as the comparison between the HRBA digital fingerprint of the content of the reference document with which the annex document DA is associated and the digital fingerprint of the content of the original signed document D2.

[0069] If the comparisons are positive and the digital fingerprints are identical, then the attached document DA presented is indeed associated with the original signed document D2.

[0070] The control sub-step ensures the conformity of the traceability chain, while allowing the authentication of an association link between a signed D2 document and an attached DA document, thus forming a traceability tree.

[0071] Advantageously, the extraction of the text from the document during each document analysis sub-step D1, D2, DA, makes it possible to detect only the text present on the document, such that a handwritten signature on a document, or stamp would not be recognized as textual content and making it possible, according to a particular embodiment, to preserve a digital fingerprint of identical content, even after certain signature, legalization or apostille type processing, and also allows the introduction of a digitized physical document not being strictly identical to the original document due to the digitization conditions applied.

[0072] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the traceability method according to the invention comprises an additional sending step, following the initialization step S0, and preceding the processing step S1.

[0073] The sending step comprises sending the original document D1 to the third party 100, the intrinsic metadata MID1 to the original document D1 and the extrinsic metadata MED1 comprising: the digital fingerprints of the original document HD1, its content HB1 and metadata HM1 in relation to the original document D1, as well as the timestamp metadata of the action of sending the original document D1 to the third party 100, which are stored via a transaction implemented by a third smart contract B3 in the blockchain system B. [Tables 6] DECLARATION SENT TO THE TRANSLATOR Kind Original to be legalized Name KBIS SOCIETE PDF Size 17KB Action Send to step 1 Destination DAVRON TRANSLATION Date of shipment declared 08 / 09 / 2020 à 12h20 Declarant User ID ABL HD1 3j4XH HB1 Lolp3 HM1 X059 Signature Data N / A Davron internal “PROJECT” ID 7

[0074] According to one embodiment of the invention, the sending step further comprises a control sub-step preceding the sending of the original document D1 to be processed by the third party 100, of checking the identity of the original document D1 to be sent.

[0075] The control sub-step includes the calculation of the digital fingerprint of the document to be sent HD1, the digital fingerprint HB1 of the content of the document to be sent, as well as the digital fingerprint HM1 of the intrinsic metadata related to the original document D1 to be sent.

[0076] The control sub-step further comprises a comparison step between, on the one hand, the digital fingerprint of the document to be sent HD1 and the digital fingerprint HD1 of the original document D1, and on the other hand, between the digital fingerprint HB1 of the content of the document to be sent and the digital fingerprint of the content HB1 of the original document D1.

[0077] If the comparison is positive, the document to be sent to the third party is indeed the original document D1. [Tables 7] Timestamp of document receipt Extrinsic Metadata Generation (MEDA) Saving the signed original file (D2) and the associated signed annex document (DA) Timestamp of document receipt Generation of extrinsic metadata (MED2) Attached Document (AD) Document analysis Original signed document -Metadata intrinsic to the document (MIDA) -Metadata intrinsic to the document (MID2) -Visible content of the attached document (AD) -Visible content of the original signed document (D2) Calculation of digital fingerprints Calculation of original digital fingerprints Calculation of digital fingerprints: - of the attached document (HDA) - of the original signed document (HD2) - the content of the attached document (HBA) - the content of the original signed document (HB2) - Metadata collected from the attached document (HMA) - Metadata collected from the original signed document (HM2) Additional checks: HB1 = HB2? If so, are we talking about the same document? HRA = HD1 and HRBA = HB1? If so, the annex document refers to the correct document. Storage of metadata and digital fingerprints of the attached document, as well as digital fingerprints of the original signed document (D2) and the content of the original signed document (D2) associated with the attached document (DA) Storage via a transaction in a smart contract (B1) to a blockchain system (B) Storage of metadata and digital fingerprints of the original signed document, as well as the calculated digital fingerprints of the original signed document (D2) Table 7 schematically describes a particular embodiment of the sub-steps of the reception step in accordance with the invention.

[0078] According to one embodiment of the invention, the control sub-step further comprises a visual conformity check.

[0079] The visual control of conformity can be implemented by comparing the visible content extracted, for example, between an original D1 document and a signed original D2 document, an original D1 document and an attached document corresponding to the original apostilled / legalized document, or any document associated with another document whose content includes identical elements.

[0080] For example, an original document D1 comprising, after processing, a seal, stamp, or a signature physically applied by a third party 100 and then digitized can be compared to the associated original document D1 such that their respective visible contents are compared to confirm the identity of the two documents on at least part of their respective visible contents.

[0081] According to another embodiment of the invention, the traceability method is implemented by several successive third parties (100, 200).

[0082] The initialization steps S0, processing S1 and reception S2 are repeated by the next third party (200) on the basis of the signed original document (D2) and the signed annex document (DA) generated by the previous third party (100).

[0083] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the sub-steps of storage in a smart contract (B1, B2, B3) via a transaction in the blockchain system B are all carried out on a single smart contract grouping the stored information.

[0084] Advantageously, storage in a single smart contract allows audit trail verification entities to have all the information necessary to validate the authentication of documents on a single medium on the blockchain system B.

[0085] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the identity of the blockchain system B to be used for the storage sub-steps can be selected by a user according to the backup parameters chosen by said user when saving the original document D1.

[0086] The deposit of target metadata according to the invention at any point of the method on at least one smart contract B1 of the blockchain system B also makes it possible to certify the state of a document, or of selected data from this (these) document(s) or of its association with an attached document, making the information it contains immutable and traceable in the audit trail thus created and making it possible to consolidate the audit trail during successive document processing cycles.

[0087] The digital fingerprint of the intrinsic metadata of each document D1, D2, DA also makes it possible to make immutable and certify in particular the metadata concerning the electronic signature(s) of each third party 100, as well as their associated metadata and thus make it possible to obtain a process sequentially allowing the multiplicity of signatures on a document or a document and at least one associated document in a desynchronized manner.

[0088] Such a process also makes it possible to avoid overwriting previous signature(s) in the event of signature by different software on the document(s) processed, and thus to individually trace each addition of signature to said document(s) sequentially on the audit trail.

[0089] According to a first embodiment, the original document D1 is certified by a notary, it is then sent to a first third party 100 to be translated, and the translation thus generated is signed, the documents D2,DA are then sent to an additional third party 200 for legalization, the additional third party 200 being a government authority, and the documents thus generated are sent to a second additional third party 200 of the consulate type, the previously generated documents being subject to over-legalization type processing.

[0090] According to a second embodiment, the original document D1 is certified by a notary, it is then sent to a first third party 100 to be translated, and the translation thus generated is signed, the documents D2, DA are then sent to an additional third party 200 for apostille, the additional third party 200 being a government authority.

[0091] In practice, the recording sub-steps of the initialization steps S0 and reception S2 are implemented temporarily until the required information is stored in the blockchain system B, so that the documents D1, D2, DA are not archived permanently, and thus guarantee the confidentiality of the documents D1, D2, DA.

[0092] For example, documents D1, D2, DA are PDF type files.

[0093] The audit trail of the blockchain system B is thus continuously fed by the processing of successive third parties (100, 200), and each initialization step S0 and reception step S2 allows the storage of successive data, relating to each third party 100,200, and thus ensures that any third-party verifier has access to an authentication tree from the original document D1.

[0094] In reference to the figures 6 And 7 ,the invention also relates to a platform for traceability of an attached document DA generated by a third party 100 from an original document D1, said platform interacting with a blockchain system B for the implementation of the traceability method.

[0095] The traceability platform according to the invention, of chosen structure comprising: means for recording and analyzing the original document D1 to obtain initialization metadata comprising intrinsic metadata MID1 to the original document D1 and extrinsic metadata MED1 comprising digital fingerprints of the original document HD1, its content HB1 and metadata HM1 in relation to the original document D1; reception means S2 from the third party 100 comprising means for recording and analyzing the original document D2 and the attached document DA thus received signed from the third party 100 to obtain reception data comprising intrinsic metadata of the original document and digital fingerprints of the received original document HD2, the attached document HDA and the reference document HRA and their respective content HBA, HB2, HBRA as well as metadata HM2, HMA in relation to the original document and the attached document;means for depositing the initialization metadata and the receipt metadata into a respective smart contract of the blockchain system B.;

[0096] In practice, the platform according to the invention comprises at least one web server capable of being connected via a network to a user device, and capable of receiving and saving at least one document belonging to the group formed by original document D1, signed original document D2, and generated annex document DA, coming from the user, or from a third party 100, 200.

[0097] According to one embodiment of the invention, the platform according to the invention further comprises at least one application server capable of enabling the analysis of at least one document belonging to the group formed by original document D1, signed original document D2, and generated annex document DA, and enabling the calculation of the digital fingerprints HD1, HB1, HM1, HD2, HB2, HM2, HDA, HBA, HMA necessary during the implementation of the traceability method according to the invention.

[0098] The platform according to the invention further comprises a storage module, capable of enabling storage via transactions executed in smart contracts B1, B2, B3, in a blockchain system B.

[0099] Said storage module comprises at least one server forming a Node capable of forming an integral part of the blockchain system B comprising a multitude of interconnected nodes.

[0100] According to one embodiment of the invention, the blockchain system B is a public blockchain system.

[0101] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the blockchain system B is a private blockchain system.

[0102] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the platform according to the invention further comprises a plurality of databases.

[0103] Each database comprising at least one list of third parties A, B, C capable of carrying out at least one chosen processing 101, 201, as well as information relating to said third parties A, B, C such as their contact details, identification numbers in the platform, and the like.

[0104] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the platform comprises an application module allowing the guidance of a user in the processing procedure, by selecting the third parties to whom to present the original document D1 to be processed, according to predefined processing parameters, set by the user.

[0105] The application module of the platform according to the invention is first of all capable of recording the processing parameters of the D1 document desired by a user.

[0106] For example, if the processing parameters are translation and certification by a government entity, the third parties A, B, C to be selected for processing must allow translation and legalization.

[0107] In practice, the application module of the platform according to the invention is capable of identifying at least one processing 101 belonging to the group formed by translation of a document, legalization, and generation of an apostille.

[0108] From the defined processing parameters, the application module is able to select for each type of processing selected at least one third party A, B, C, able to carry out said processing from the databases of third parties A, B, C, and able to allow the recruitment of the following third party 200 after processing and the recording of the processed document D2, DA by the current third party 100.

[0109] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the platform according to the invention further comprises an AP1 type module, configured to allow the recruitment of at least one external electronic signature tool intended for the third party 100, and to receive in the form of an IFrame, an executable to be applied to the document to be signed electronically by the third party.

Claims

1. A traceability process for an attachment document (DA) generated by a third party (100) from an original document (D1) with which it is associated, said process using a blockchain system and comprising the following steps: - an initialization step (S0) comprising: - registration and analysis of the original document (D1) for the purpose of obtaining initialization metadata for the original document (D1), consisting of: - intrinsic metadata (MID1) of the original document (D1); and - extrinsic metadata (MED1) of the original document (D1); - calculation of a digital fingerprint (HD1) of the original document (D1), a digital fingerprint (HB1) of the content of the original document (D1), and a digital fingerprint (HM1) of the intrinsic metadata (MID1) of the original document (D1); - placing in an intelligent contract (B1) of a blockchain system (B) the initialization metadata of the original document (D1), which includes the intrinsic metadata (MID1) and the extrinsic metadata (MED1) as well as the calculated digital fingerprints (HD1,HB1,HM1); - a processing step (S1) by the third party (100) comprising the generation of the attachment document (DA) by the third party (100), the original document (D1) thus received and said attachment document (DA) thus generated by the third party (100) both being electronically signed by said third party (100), the attachment document (DA) integrating in its extrinsic metadata (MEDA), digital fingerprints of the original document (D1) with which the attachment document (DA) is associated, and the digital fingerprints (HRBA) of the content of the original document (D1) taken for signature; and - a reception step (S2) from the third party (100) comprising the registration and parallel analysis of the original signed document (D2) and the signed attachment document (DA) received from the third party (100), in order to obtain reception metadata comprising: - intrinsic metadata (MID2) of the original signed document (D2) and the intrinsic metadata (MIDA) of the signed attachment document (DA); - extrinsic metadata (MED2) of the original signed document (D2) and extrinsic metadata (MEDA) of the signed attachment document (DA), including the digital fingerprints: - of the original signed document (HD2), the attachment document (HDA) and the original document (D1) and their respective content (HBA, HB2, HBRA); - of the metadata (HM2, HMA) in relation to the signed original document (D2) and the signed attachment document (DA); the reception metadata being placed in the smart contract (B1) of the blockchain system (B); and the procedure further comprising a step involving placing in an intelligent contract (B1) of a blockchain system (B) after each initialization step (S0) and after each reception step (S2), thus making it possible to establish an audit trail and enabling traceability of the attachment document (DA) generated by the third party (100) from the original document with which it is associated (D1).

2. A traceability process in accordance with claim 1, comprising, further a step involving sending the original document (D1) to the third party (100) the intrinsic metadata (MID1) of the original document (D1) and the extrinsic metadata (MED1) comprising the digital fingerprints of the original document (HD1), of its content (HB1), and of metadata (HM1) related to the original document (D1) being placed in an intelligent contract (B1) of the blockchain system (B).

3. A traceability process in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 2, in which the metadata thus obtained at each step of initialization (S0), sending and reception (S2) are stored in a database for subsequent association in a Merkle tree, whose root hash is placed in the blockchain system (B).

4. A traceability process in accordance with one of claims 1 to 3, in which the intrinsic metadata (MIDI, MID2, MIDA) belongs to the group formed by type, name, size, registration date, user identifier, electronic signature data, and the certificate(s) associated with the electronic signature data.

5. A traceability process in accordance with one of claims 1 to 4, in which the digital fingerprints (HD1, HB1, HM1, HD2, HB2, HM2, HAD, HBA, HMA) are calculated using a chosen hash function.

6. a traceability process in accordance with claim 5, in which the hash function is SHA 256.

7. A traceability process in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the attachment document (DA) belongs to the group formed by translated document, digital document containing a legalization, digital document containing an apostille.

8. A process in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 7, implemented by several successive third parties (100 200), the initialization (S0), processing (S1) and reception (S2) steps being repeated by the following third party (200) on the basis of the original signed document (D2) and the attachment document (DA) generated by the previous third party (100), the audit trail of the blockchain system (B) thus being populated over time through processing by successive third parties (100, 200).

9. A platform for traceability of an attachment document (DA) generated by a third party (100) from an original document (D1), said platform interacting with a blockchain system (B) for implementing the process in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 8, said platform comprising : - means of recording and analyzing the original document (D1) for the purpose of obtaining initialization metadata comprising intrinsic metadata (MID1) of the original document (D1) and extrinsic metadata (MED1) comprising digital fingerprints of the original document (HD1), its content (HB1) and intrinsic metadata of the original document (D1), - means of reception from the third party (100) comprising means of recording and analyzing the original document (D2) and the attached document (DA) thus received signed from the third party (100) for the purpose of obtaining reception data comprising intrinsic metadata (MID1) of the signed original document (D1) and the intrinsic metadata of the signed attachment document (DA), extrinsic metadata of the signed original document and the extrinsic metadata of the signed attachment document including the digital fingerprints of the signed original document (HD2), the attachment document (HDA) and original document (D1) and their respective content (HBA, HB2, HBRA) as well as metadata (HM2, HMA) in relation to the signed original document (D2 and the signed attachment document (DA); - means for placing the initialization metadata and the reception metadata in a smart contract (B1) of the blockchain system (B), and in which several successive third parties (100, 200) are able to populate over time the audit trail of the blockchain system (B) by the following third party (200) on the basis of the original signed document (D2) and the attachment document (DA) generated by the previous third party (100).

10. A traceability platform in accordance with claim 9, comprising an application module capable of recording the processing parameters of the document (D1) desired by a user, capable of identifying at least one processing operation belonging to the group formed by translation of a document, legalization, generation of an apostille, capable of selecting for each type of processing at least one third party (A, B, C), and capable of enabling the recruitment of the following third party (200) after processing and recording of the processed document (D2, DA) by the current third party (100).

11. Traceability platform in accordance with claim 9 or 10', comprising an interactive tool with multiple databases, each comprising at least one list of third parties (A, B, C) capable of performing at least one selected processing operation, as well as information relating to said third parties (A, B, C).