Private Blockchain Asset Tracking via Mobile Code Scanning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Enterprises and third-party service organizations face challenges in maintaining accurate asset management and invoicing due to outdated information on device locations and software configurations, especially when devices are frequently relocated and lack of network access restricts timely updates and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a private blockchain for intelligent asset management, where a mobile device scans a code to update the geographical location and software configuration of managed devices, allowing enterprises and service organizations to access up-to-date information through a shared distributed ledger, independent of network connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If enterprises freely move devices around and install new software, then device flexibility and adaptability improve, but accuracy of asset location and configuration information deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The managed device itself generates and updates its location and configuration information autonomously by creating a service communication that includes its current location and software configuration. This eliminates the need for manual updates by service organizations and ensures information accuracy automatically follows device movement and software changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the managed device continuously reports its current location and configuration status to the distributed ledger. This feedback loop ensures that the asset management system always has up-to-date information about device locations and software configurations, resolving the information accuracy problem.
2Loss of information
If service organizations perform manual tracking and updates, then initial information accuracy improves, but time required for maintenance and invoicing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The managed device autonomously generates service communications containing its location and configuration data, eliminating the need for service organizations to manually track and update asset information. This self-service approach maintains information accuracy while significantly reducing maintenance time.
Solution Approach 2:
The managed device performs preliminary actions by proactively generating and publishing its location and configuration information to the distributed ledger before service organizations need it. This preliminary action ensures information is ready and accurate when invoicing or maintenance is required, eliminating delays.
3Ease of operation
If service organizations require network access to ATMs, then ease of service improvement is achieved, but security and regulatory compliance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ATM performs self-service by autonomously generating and publishing its location and configuration information to the distributed ledger without requiring network access. This allows service organizations to access ATM information through the blockchain network, maintaining security and regulatory compliance while enabling ease of service.
Solution Approach 2:
The distributed ledger acts as an intermediary that enables service organizations to access ATM information without direct network connection to the ATM itself. This intermediary approach maintains security by allowing information sharing through a secure, regulated channel while preserving service accessibility.
4Ease of manufacture
If enterprises maintain manual asset listings, then initial setup simplicity improves, but timeliness of service and invoicing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The managed device autonomously maintains its own asset information in the distributed ledger, eliminating the need for enterprises to manually maintain asset listings. This self-service approach maintains setup simplicity while ensuring real-time information accuracy that enables timely service and invoicing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous automatic updating of asset information through the distributed ledger, ensuring that location and configuration data are always current. This continuity of useful action eliminates the delays associated with manual updates and ensures timely service and invoicing while maintaining operational simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A code associated with a managed device is scanned by a mobile device operated by service personnel. The code at least comprises an identifier for managed device. A current geographical location of the mobile device and the code are provided to a cloud/server. The location is associated with the managed device and updated or added to a shared private blockchain ledger. The shared private blockchain ledger shared between one or more enterprises and one or more service organizations. In an embodiment, the managed device dynamically generates the code and presents the code on a display associated with the managed device for scanning by the mobile device.