Blockchain Digital Document Verification via Signed Hash
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods require physical documents for verification, which is inconvenient and inefficient, especially for digital identities, as they necessitate repeated verification processes and rely on third-party authentication.
Innovation Solution
A method using a blockchain to validate digital documents by storing a hash of the document signed by the issuer, allowing subsequent checks to verify the document's authenticity without re-verifying the information, and enabling traceability of checks through smart contracts and blockchain entries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical documents are used for verification, then document authenticity can be confirmed, but verification processes become time-consuming and require repeated physical presence or video links
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy (hash value) of the physical document and stores it on the blockchain. This digital replica can be verified repeatedly without needing the original physical document, eliminating the need for repeated physical presence or video links while maintaining verification reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The document verification is performed in advance by the issuer, who signs the hash value and stores it on the blockchain before any subsequent verification needs. This preliminary verification action eliminates the need for repeated verification processes later.
2Reliability
If third-party verification is used, then document validation can be performed, but the process becomes complex and requires multiple intermediaries
Solution Approach 1:
The blockchain serves as a trusted intermediary that stores and verifies document hash values. Instead of requiring multiple third-party verification services, the blockchain acts as a single, decentralized mediator that all parties can trust, simplifying the verification architecture while maintaining reliability.
3Ease of operation
If digital documents are used instead of physical ones, then convenience is improved, but ensuring document authenticity becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical verification process (physical document inspection) with a cryptographic system. Hash values and digital signatures provide mathematical guarantees of authenticity, making digital document verification as reliable as physical verification while offering greater convenience.
4Measurement precision
If information is verified multiple times, then each verification is thorough, but the overall process becomes inefficient and redundant
Solution Approach 1:
The issuer performs a thorough verification of the document information once and stores the signed hash on the blockchain. Subsequent verifications simply compare new hash values against this pre-verified stored hash, maintaining thoroughness while dramatically improving efficiency by avoiding redundant verification steps.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for verifying the validity of a digital document (210) using a blockchain (108). The blockchain (108) comprises an entry (116) with a signed hash value (211) of the digital document (210), which confirms successful verification of information (209) of the digital document (210). The method comprises: • Receiving a read request to read the hash value (211) of the digital document (210) from a verification computer system (300) that verifies the digital document (210), • Entering an entry (112) signed by the verification computer system (300) into the blockchain (108), which indicates verification by the verification computer system (300), • Sending the hash value (211) of the digital document (210) to the verification computer system (300).