Blockchain Document Transfer with Immutable Receipt Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional document transfer systems between entities lack an immutable record of document transfers and receipt verification, making it difficult to ensure secure and reliable exchange of documents across entities.

Innovation Solution

A blockchain network is configured with first and second blockchain nodes, where the first node provides a data reference to the second node, allowing the second node to access a document and provide a proof of receipt to a shared blockchain ledger, ensuring an immutable record of document transfers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional document transfer systems are used between entities, then document exchange can occur, but there is no immutable record of document transfers and receipt verification

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocument transfer verificationVSAvoidtransfer record

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

A blockchain network acts as an intermediary between entities to record and verify document transfers. The blockchain ledger stores immutable proof of receipt records, providing a trusted third-party mechanism that both entities can rely on for verification without needing to trust each other directly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical/document-based verification systems with a cryptographic system. Digital signatures, hash functions, and blockchain consensus mechanisms substitute for physical signatures and manual record-keeping, providing automated, tamper-proof verification of document transfers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If secure gateways are used for document transfers, then security is improved, but there is still lack of receipt verification and immutable records

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure transferVSAvoidverification system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blockchain network serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a secure communication channel, a verification system, an immutable record-keeping mechanism, and a trust establishment platform. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate verification systems and reduces overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The blockchain system provides self-verification through its inherent cryptographic mechanisms. Once a document transfer is recorded on the blockchain with digital signatures and hash proofs, the system automatically verifies its integrity and authenticity without requiring additional external verification infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If a multi-entity blockchain network is implemented, then immutable record and receipt verification are provided, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereceipt verificationVSAvoidblockchain network

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blockchain network is segmented into multiple independent nodes, each maintaining a copy of the ledger. This segmentation distributes the verification burden across multiple entities rather than requiring a centralized complex verification system, while still providing unified immutable records through consensus mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11563557B2Document transfer processing for blockchains

Publication Date: 2023.01.24 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

An example operation may include one or more of configuring a blockchain network comprising first and second blockchain nodes, providing, by the first blockchain node, a data reference to the second blockchain node, accessing a document, by the second blockchain node, from the first blockchain node, and providing by the second blockchain node, a proof of receipt for the document to a shared blockchain ledger.