Blockchain Document Authorization via Smart Contract Access Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for document authorization and distribution rely on proprietary formats and mobile code, which are vulnerable to security risks and limit flexibility, especially when distributing digital content securely across various platforms.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a blockchain network with a repository server and user devices, where document publication and dissemination records are stored, allowing access control through smart contracts, and encrypting documents with user-specific passwords to ensure secure and decentralized distribution in an open format like HTML.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If proprietary formats and mobile code are used for document authorization, then access control can be enforced, but security risks increase and flexibility decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess control enforcementVSAvoidsecurity risks

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a blockchain-based intermediary system that mediates between document owners and users. Instead of directly running mobile code on client devices, the system uses smart contracts on the blockchain to verify access rights and manage document distribution, eliminating the security risks of mobile code while maintaining access control enforcement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical execution of mobile code with cryptographic verification through smart contracts. Access control is enforced through digital signatures and hash verification on the blockchain, substituting the vulnerable mobile code execution model with a secure cryptographic verification model

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If proprietary formats are used for document distribution, then access control can be enforced, but adaptability and ease of use across different platforms decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess control enforcementVSAvoidplatform compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal document distribution system that works across multiple platforms and formats. By using blockchain-based access control that is format-agnostic, the system can handle various document types (PDF, HTML, images, videos) and distribute them through different channels (web, mobile, desktop) without requiring platform-specific implementations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of converting documents to proprietary formats to enforce access control, the patent inverts the approach by keeping documents in their native formats and enforcing access control at the distribution layer through blockchain verification. This allows documents to maintain their original format benefits while still implementing robust access control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If mobile code is run on client side for authorization, then access control can be implemented, but system complexity and potential security vulnerabilities increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess control implementationVSAvoidclient side complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the authorization logic from the client device and relocates it to the blockchain network. Instead of running complex authorization code on client devices, the system uses smart contracts on the blockchain to handle all authorization decisions, significantly reducing client-side complexity to simple cryptographic verification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If blockchain technology is used for document management, then security and decentralization are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocument securityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the blockchain system into distinct functional components: document registration smart contracts, access control smart contracts, and distribution tracking smart contracts. This modular approach allows each component to be independently developed, tested, and maintained, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining security benefits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11366915B2Method and system for document authorization and distribution

Publication Date: 2022.06.21 NIRA INC

AI summary

A method for document authorization and distribution is provided. The method is based on a system including a repository server, communicating with or hosting a repository; a blockchain network, including a plurality of peers; and a plurality of user devices, each communicating with the repository server or the blockchain network. The repository contains a plurality of published documents. A plurality of document publication records, a plurality of document dissemination records, and an access control smart contract are distributed over the peers. The method includes: when an access request for a published document is submitted by a user from a user device, retrieving the published document; verifying the document access right; encrypting the published document with a document password encrypted using the user's public key; signing and posting a document dissemination record, including the document password; and placing the document contents and a signed document hash value in a container document.