Blockchain Personal Data Management via Smart Contract Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for storing personally identifiable information are insecure, prone to hacking, and require repetitive submission of data, leading to errors and fraudulent credentials, with entities managing their own silos and lacking control over data access and verification.
Innovation Solution
A permissioned blockchain-based system using smart contracts to securely store and manage personal data, allowing individuals to own and control their data, with entities accessing it only through pre-defined conditions, ensuring validated and tamper-proof information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If personal information is stored in data silos by multiple entities, then each entity can access and manage its own data, but the system becomes insecure, prone to hacking, and requires costly security measures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates personal information storage from multiple distributed data silos into a single centralized blockchain ledger. All entities (schools, employers, governments, etc.) access the same unified ledger rather than maintaining separate copies, eliminating the need for multiple security infrastructures while improving overall system security through blockchain's inherent cryptographic protections.
Solution Approach 2:
The blockchain ledger acts as a neutral intermediary between all entities that need to access personal information. Instead of each entity maintaining its own secure storage system, the blockchain provides a trusted middle ground where data is stored once and accessed by all authorized parties through smart contracts, reducing the attack surface for security vulnerabilities.
2Productivity
If entities maintain their own data silos, then they can independently manage their data, but repetitive submission of personal information is required leading to errors and inconsistencies
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary data validation and standardization when information is first entered into the blockchain ledger. Smart contracts pre-verify the format, completeness, and consistency of personal information before it is stored, eliminating the need for repetitive submissions and reducing errors that would arise from manual re-entry across multiple entities.
Solution Approach 2:
The blockchain ledger serves as a universal data repository that all entities can access and trust. Instead of each entity maintaining its own separate data system, the single ledger provides multi-functional access for schools, employers, governments, and other organizations, ensuring that everyone works with the same verified information without requiring repetitive data collection.
3Ease of operation
If personal information is stored in multiple locations, then entities can access it when needed, but the information may be altered, modified, or accessed without authorization
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements selective accessibility through smart contracts that control which entities can access specific portions of personal information based on predefined conditions. Rather than allowing universal access to all data or restricting access entirely, the smart contracts enable partial access only when necessary and appropriate conditions are met, maintaining both accessibility and integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The blockchain ledger provides transparent feedback mechanisms where all accesses, modifications, and interactions with personal information are recorded and traceable. Smart contracts automatically log when data is accessed or updated, creating an audit trail that enhances data integrity while maintaining controlled accessibility through cryptographic verification of all operations.
4Measurement precision
If manual typing and validation of personal information is required, then entities can verify data accuracy, but errors occur due to manual typing mistakes, software malfunctions, or deliberate modifications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual typing and human-based validation processes with automated cryptographic verification through smart contracts. Instead of relying on manual data entry and human judgment for validation, the system uses cryptographic algorithms and automated contract execution to verify data accuracy, eliminating errors from manual typing mistakes while reducing the complexity of validation procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Blockchain technology may leverage smart contracts to provide a publicly accessible system for storing and accessing personal records. An event or record deemed as personally identifiable information can be recorded as a transaction in the blockchain ledger. To access the ledger, an individual may need to satisfy conditions specified in a smart contract between the system and an individual. The conditions of access may include personal information, username(s), password(s), visual data, and biometric data. The conditions specified in the contract may evolve over time. Similarly, entities wishing to access and update personal data may need to satisfy conditions specified in a smart contract between the system and the entity. A separate smart contract may be used for every entity needing personal data access.