Blockchain Digital Evidence Hash Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in managing digital evidence is ensuring its authenticity, as electronic evidence can be tampered with, making it difficult to verify its integrity, especially in large cases with numerous documents or media files.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using a blockchain to manage digital evidence by receiving an evidence data file, generating a block for the blockchain with an evidence identifier and a hash code, and storing it, allowing users to verify the authenticity of the evidence data file through the blockchain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If electronic evidence is used to replace paper bundles, then productivity and efficiency are improved, but reliability and authenticity verification become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by computing hash codes of evidence files and storing them in blockchain blocks before any potential tampering can occur. This creates a preemptive digital fingerprint that can be used later to verify authenticity without requiring manual inspection of the actual evidence files.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces hash codes as an intermediary element between the original evidence files and the verification process. Instead of directly verifying the authenticity of large evidence files, the system uses these compact hash code intermediaries stored in the blockchain to represent and verify evidence integrity, making the process efficient and reliable.
2Measurement precision
If manual checking of electronic documents is performed to detect tampering, then measurement precision of authenticity is improved, but loss of time and productivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a simplified copy of the evidence file's essential characteristic (its hash code) and stores this copy in the blockchain. This copy contains all the necessary information for authenticity verification without requiring examination of the entire original evidence file, dramatically reducing verification time while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of reviewing evidence documents with an automated computational system. The blockchain network automatically stores, links, and verifies hash codes through cryptographic mechanisms, eliminating the need for manual document inspection while maintaining or improving detection precision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If transformation operations are performed on evidence files, then adaptability and usability are improved, but reliability and traceability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by recording the hash code of the original evidence file in the blockchain before any transformation operations are applied. This creates a reference point that allows the system to verify whether transformations have been performed and to trace the evidence's history, maintaining reliability even as adaptability increases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity by maintaining an unbroken chain of hash code references in the blockchain that tracks the evidence through all transformation operations. Each transformation can be verified against the previous state through the blockchain record, ensuring continuous traceability and reliability throughout the evidence's lifecycle despite multiple format conversions.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method and system for managing digital evidence using a blockchain. The method comprises receiving an evidence data file, the evidence data file being identified by: an evidence identifier, and a hash code computed from the evidence data file; generating a block for the blockchain by combining data indicative of: a hash of a previous block in the blockchain, the evidence identifier, and the hash code computed from the evidence data file; and storing the generated block as a new block in the blockchain, wherein the method further comprises: outputting at least part of the data in the blockchain in response to a user request to enable a user to verify the authenticity of the evidence data file using the data in the blockchain.