Blockchain Consumer Goods Tracking for Counterfeit Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Counterfeit consumer goods, particularly in pharmaceutical and medical sectors, pose health risks and economic damages, and existing systems lack effective methods for secure tracking and control to prevent illegal introduction and removal from distribution chains.
Innovation Solution
A blockchain-based method that registers consumer goods with manufacturer data and test values, tracks ownership changes, and records final delivery or destruction, ensuring a secure and tamper-proof history of each product from production to end consumer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional tracking systems are used for consumer goods, then the system complexity is low, but the security and reliability of tracking are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional centralized database tracking systems with a blockchain-based distributed ledger system. This substitution uses cryptographic hashing and distributed consensus mechanisms instead of conventional data storage and access control methods, thereby enhancing tracking security and reliability while accepting increased system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces blockchain technology as an intermediary layer between manufacturers, distributors, and consumers. This intermediary provides a neutral, tamper-proof record-keeping mechanism that all parties can trust, resolving the security-reliability issue by preventing unauthorized modifications to product history data.
2Measurement precision
If manual verification methods are used for product authenticity, then the ease of operation is high, but the measurement precision of authentication is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection and physical verification methods with automated cryptographic verification. Users scan a QR code or enter a product identifier, and the system automatically verifies authenticity against the blockchain ledger, dramatically improving authentication accuracy while reducing manual effort through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of the product's authentication data in the form of a QR code or digital identifier that can be easily scanned and verified. This digital copy contains essential verification information that can be quickly checked against the blockchain, improving both accuracy and ease of operation compared to manual verification of physical security features.
3Reliability
If comprehensive tracking of all product movements is implemented, then the reliability of supply chain monitoring is improved, but the loss of time for data recording increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous, automatic tracking of product movements through the supply chain using IoT devices and automated scanning at each handover point. Data is recorded in real-time as transactions occur, eliminating delays associated with batch processing or manual entry, thereby maintaining high monitoring reliability without significant time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual data entry and paper-based tracking with automated electronic capture and blockchain recording. Sensors, scanners, and software automatically capture product location, ownership, and status changes, and these data are immediately hashed and stored on the blockchain, dramatically reducing the time required to record supply chain events while maintaining comprehensive monitoring.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for protection against falsification and for handover control of consumer goods using a blockchain (106). The method comprises, in the event of a production of a consumer good, receiving a registration request (208) to register the consumer good in the blockchain (106) and executing first program instructions of the program module (108), as a result of which the consumer good is registered in the blockchain (106). The method further comprises, once or a plurality of times, in the event of a change in owner of the registered consumer good, receiving a transfer confirmation request (208, 228, 248) and executing second program instructions of the program module (108), as a result of which an authorization to transfer the consumer good is assigned to a further owner in replacement of the previous owner. The method further comprises, in the event of a final handover of the consumer good to an end user, receiving a final handover confirmation request (228, 248) and executing third program instructions of the program module (108), as a result of which a final handover note, stipulating that the consumer good cannot be transferred again, is assigned to the consumer good.