Blockchain Insurance Payments With Encrypted Access Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional blockchain systems are not suitable for interactions that require privacy and permissioned participation, as they are open, decentralized, and permissionless, leading to potential exposure of sensitive information and lack of control over access.

Innovation Solution

Implementing blockchain technology with encryption techniques and digital signatures to control access to personal data, ensuring only authorized nodes can decrypt and view sensitive information, while maintaining a distributed consensus.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional blockchain systems are used with open, decentralized, and permissionless access, then data transparency and immutability are improved, but data privacy and control over access deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transparencyVSAvoiddata privacy risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating access rights at the data level. Different users or nodes can have different levels of access to different portions of the blockchain data. Encryption techniques are applied selectively to sensitive data while keeping other data accessible, allowing the system to maintain transparency where needed while protecting privacy where required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces encryption as an intermediary layer between the blockchain data and users. This intermediary mechanism allows the blockchain to maintain its transparent and immutable nature while preventing direct access to sensitive information. The encryption acts as a mediator that can be selectively applied and removed based on user permissions, resolving the contradiction between transparency and privacy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If permissionless access is implemented in blockchain systems, then system openness and decentralization are improved, but unauthorized access to sensitive information increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem opennessVSAvoidunauthorized access
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by applying different access control mechanisms to different parts of the system. While the blockchain remains open and decentralized for most operations, specific sensitive data is protected with encryption and access permissions. This allows the system to maintain openness where needed while preventing unauthorized access to protected information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic access control where permissions can be changed based on user roles, data sensitivity, and contextual factors. The system can transition between more open and more restricted access modes dynamically, allowing it to adapt to different operational requirements while maintaining security against unauthorized access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If encryption techniques are applied to control access to personal data, then data privacy and security are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses encryption keys as copies that can be distributed to authorized users. Instead of creating complex access control mechanisms, the system uses encrypted copies of data that can be independently managed. Each user receives a copy of the encryption key appropriate to their permissions, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining strong security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of data accessibility through encryption rather than changing the fundamental blockchain structure. By modifying how data is stored and accessed (through encryption parameters) rather than redesigning the blockchain protocol, the system achieves enhanced security with minimal increase in complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If cryptographic validation is used to maintain data integrity, then data reliability and immutability are improved, but computational requirements and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial cryptographic validation rather than exhaustive verification of all data. Instead of cryptographically validating every single data point and transaction history, the system uses selective encryption and validation mechanisms that apply cryptography only where necessary, reducing computational requirements while maintaining sufficient data integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs cryptographic operations in advance during data storage and transaction confirmation, rather than during retrieval and access. By completing the heavy cryptographic validation work beforehand, the system reduces processing time during user operations while still maintaining strong data integrity through cryptographic validation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12386989B2Systems and methods for blockchain-based payments
Publication Date: 2025.08.12 STATE FARM MUTAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
  • US12386989B2 patent drawing
  • US12386989B2 patent drawing
  • US12386989B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods and systems for processing a blockchain comprising a plurality of immutable insurance policy payment records corresponding to insurance policies are provided. According to certain aspects, a transaction request indicating a policy payment for an insurance policy may be received at a first node. A block including an insurance policy payment record indicating the policy payment may be added to a blockchain and transmitted to another node for validation. The first node may add the block to a copy of the blockchain, where the block may be identified by a hash value that references a previous block in the blockchain that includes at least one additional insurance policy payment record.