Blockchain Digital File Tokenization for Confidentiality

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current solutions for digital file management and preservation in decentralized networks, such as those using blockchain, face challenges in maintaining confidentiality and preventing unauthorized access and reproduction of digital assets like 3D designs, as smart contracts cannot effectively hide data and ensure secure ownership and usage.

Innovation Solution

A method involving splitting digital files into tokens, distributing them across multiple computing nodes using a blockchain protocol, and employing a multi-signature mechanism with randomly shuffled nodes and encryption, where each node holds a portion of the decryption key, ensuring that all nodes must authorize access and preventing unauthorized access by requiring sequential key requests.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If digital files are stored in a centralized database with a trusted administrator, then data confidentiality and access control are improved, but system decentralization and transparency are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata confidentialityVSAvoidsystem decentralization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments digital files into multiple tokens and distributes them across different computing nodes in a decentralized network. Each node holds only a portion of the data, preventing any single node from accessing the complete file. This segmentation approach maintains data confidentiality while enabling system decentralization, as no central administrator is needed to control access to the entire dataset.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a nested structure where tokens are embedded within the blockchain ledger, which itself is distributed across multiple nodes. The digital file is nested as encrypted tokens within the blockchain's data structure, creating layers of protection. This nested architecture allows the system to maintain both decentralization (through blockchain distribution) and confidentiality (through encrypted nesting of file tokens within the ledger structure).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Extent of automation

If smart contracts are used to control data access in blockchain, then automation and transparency are improved, but data hiding and confidentiality are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess control automationVSAvoiddata confidentiality
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-encrypting digital files into tokens before storing them in the blockchain. The encryption is performed in advance, so that even though the blockchain's smart contracts automatically manage access control, the actual file data remains hidden and unintelligible without the proper decryption keys. This preliminary encryption step ensures that automation does not compromise confidentiality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer of encryption keys and token authentication mechanisms between the smart contract automation and the actual file data. The smart contracts can automatically control access permissions, but they interact only with encrypted tokens and key management, not the plaintext file content. This intermediary encryption layer preserves confidentiality while allowing automated access control to function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3664399B1A computer-implemented method, a system, and computer programs for digital files management and preservation in digital licenses
Publication Date: 2021.06.23 BILDOSUND SL
  • EP3664399B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3664399B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3664399B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4D

AI summary

A method, system, and computer programs for digital files management and preservation in digital licenses. The method comprises splitting a digital file into a plurality of tokens and distributing each token over computing nodes (101, 102, 103, 104) participating in a blockchain; splitting a first random key associated to the digital file into a plurality of portions and distributing each portion to each computing node (101, 102, 103, 104); shuffling, randomly, the computing nodes (101, 102, 103, 104) and its associated public keys; for each computing node (101, 102, 103, 104) encrypting the portion with the node's public key, and encrypting the received token and a hash function with a public key; storing a head token that corresponds to a first computing node of the blockchain and its associated public key in a digital license; and generating a multiencrypted key Ra and using the latter as the key for recovering the digital file.