Blockchain E-Bill Number Allocation via Smart Contracts

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Solution Overview

Problem

In blockchain-based systems, maintaining sufficient e-bill numbers across multiple levels of accounts is challenging, leading to insufficiencies that hinder billing processes and number allocations.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where e-bill numbers are allocated from upper-level accounts to lower-level accounts using smart contracts, with periodic checks and alarm indications to ensure sufficient quantities, allowing automatic application and maintenance of e-bill numbers across the blockchain network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If e-bill numbers are manually maintained in each account, then account autonomy is preserved, but number insufficiency occurs and billing processes are hindered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvee-bill number quantityVSAvoidbilling process smoothness

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic self-service through smart contracts that monitor e-bill number quantities and trigger allocations from upper-level accounts when thresholds are reached, eliminating manual intervention while maintaining account autonomy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where account agents periodically check e-bill number quantities and receive alarm indications when quantities fall below thresholds, triggering automatic allocation requests to upper-level accounts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Quantity of substance

If e-bill numbers are allocated from upper-level accounts, then number insufficiency is prevented, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvee-bill number quantityVSAvoidaccount management structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments account management into hierarchical levels (upper-level and lower-level accounts) with clear division of responsibilities, where upper-level accounts maintain number pools and lower-level accounts consume numbers, simplifying overall management despite added structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Account agents serve as intermediaries between accounts and the blockchain system, handling automatic allocation logic and reducing the complexity burden on the core blockchain infrastructure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If periodic checks are implemented, then e-bill number insufficiency is detected early, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber availability reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by setting threshold values in advance and automatically triggering allocation processes when thresholds are reached, preventing insufficiency before it occurs and reducing emergency processing time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Account agents perform periodic checks at predetermined intervals to monitor e-bill number quantities, balancing early detection of insufficiency with efficient use of processing time through regular rather than continuous monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS10846765B2Blockchain-based e-bill number application method, apparatus, and electronic device

Publication Date: 2020.11.24 ADVANCED NEW TECHNOLOGIES CO LTD

AI summary

A computer-implemented method, non-transitory, computer-readable medium, and computer-implemented system are provided for applying a blockchain-based e-bill number. A blockchain includes multiple levels of accounts used to maintain e-bill number segments. An e-bill number application transaction published to the blockchain is received, where the e-bill number application transaction includes an account identifier of an account of a number applicant; allocating one or more e-bill numbers to the number applicant from an e-bill number segment maintained in an upper-level account corresponding to the account of the number applicant in response to the e-bill number application transaction; and adding the one or more e-bill numbers allocated to the number applicant to the account of the number applicant for maintenance.