Ad Hoc Supply Chain Node for Secure Data Sharing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In traditional supply chain management, information sharing among multiple actors is challenging due to disparate information systems and varying willingness to share sensitive information, making optimization of resources and logistics difficult.
Innovation Solution
An ad hoc supply chain collaborative computing environment is established, using a host computing system with a data store and collaboration models that define knowledge graphs, event logs, and predictive functions to facilitate private and confidential data sharing among actors, optimizing resource utilization through authenticated publishers and subscribers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional disparate information systems are used in supply chain, then each actor maintains information security and control, but information sharing and transparency among supply chain actors deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a blockchain-based distributed ledger as an intermediary layer that enables secure information sharing without requiring actors to directly trust each other's systems. The blockchain acts as a neutral mediator where all supply chain participants can write and verify transactions transparently while maintaining control over their own data through cryptographic authentication mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple disparate information systems into a unified blockchain-based platform that consolidates data from different supply chain actors. By combining previously separate systems into a single distributed ledger, the patent achieves both information transparency and security through the blockchain's inherent properties of immutability and cryptographic protection.
2Productivity
If more supply chain actors participate in information sharing, then resource utilization optimization improves, but system complexity and coordination difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal blockchain platform that serves multiple supply chain functions simultaneously - tracking goods, verifying authenticity, managing contracts, and enabling payments. This multi-functional system allows numerous actors to participate without requiring separate coordination mechanisms for each function, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite increased participation.
Solution Approach 2:
The blockchain system enables supply chain actors to independently verify information and execute transactions without requiring centralized coordination. Each participant can autonomously validate transactions against the distributed ledger and enforce smart contracts automatically, eliminating the need for complex central coordination mechanisms even as the number of participants grows.
3Loss of information
If sensitive supply chain information is shared publicly, then transparency and collaboration improve, but confidentiality and competitive advantage deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements differential access rights where different supply chain participants can view different portions of the blockchain data based on their roles and permissions. This local quality approach allows each actor to see only the information relevant to their function while maintaining overall system transparency, thereby protecting confidential information from public exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The blockchain acts as an intermediary that selectively discloses information to appropriate parties. Through cryptographic authentication and permission management, the system mediates between the need for transparency and confidentiality by ensuring that sensitive information is shared only with authorized participants rather than being publicly exposed.
4Measurement precision
If manual information verification processes are used, then data accuracy can be maintained, but processing speed and efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual verification processes with automated cryptographic validation mechanisms inherent to blockchain technology. Instead of human operators manually checking data authenticity, the system uses cryptographic signatures and consensus algorithms to automatically verify transactions, thereby maintaining data accuracy while dramatically increasing processing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The blockchain system performs self-verification through its distributed consensus mechanism, where multiple nodes independently validate transactions without requiring external manual verification. This self-service approach maintains data accuracy through cryptographic proof while eliminating the time-consuming nature of manual verification processes.
Data Source
AI summary
An ad hoc supply chain collaborative computing environment management method includes selecting a collaboration model from amongst several models and establishing the environment in accordance with the selected model including defining a knowledge graph, a set of expected events to be received in an event log, and one or more predictive functions operating upon the different events in the event log to produce predictive values. The method also includes, registering actors in a supply chain as authenticated publishers or subscribers to the event log of different events published by different authenticated computing systems of the actors, authenticating different ones of the registered different actors prior the different actors publishing events to the event log, triggering predictive functions for newly published ones of the events in order to produce predictive values and providing read-only access to different states of the entities of the knowledge graph to authenticated subscribers.