Blockchain Shipment Tracking via Local Remote Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anti-counterfeiting methods focus primarily on verifying product authenticity but fail to effectively track and guarantee the shipment of goods, as counterfeiters can reuse or tamper with labels and electronic identification, and do not ensure the secure delivery of authentic products from manufacturers to consumers.
Innovation Solution
A blockchain-based system that stores and verifies shipment locations in both a local and remote blockchain, using contactless readable/writable units like RFID tags, to ensure the integrity and authenticity of goods throughout the shipping process, employing asymmetric cryptography and peer supervision for secure tracking and verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional anti-counterfeiting methods (labels, markers, electronic identification) are used, then product authenticity verification is enabled, but the system cannot effectively track and guarantee shipment integrity as counterfeiters can reuse or tamper with these identifiers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the tracking system into multiple independent shipment locations (manufacturing location, shipping location, delivery location) that are recorded separately in the blockchain. Each location adds its own verification data, creating segmented but interconnected proof points that cannot be easily replicated by counterfeiters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by recording the manufacturing location and initial product identification in the blockchain before the product enters the supply chain. This early anchoring of authentic data creates an immutable reference point that subsequent tracking locations can verify against.
2Ease of operation
If a centralized tracking system is used, then shipment tracking is simplified, but the system becomes vulnerable to tampering and central points of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple independent tracking records from different shipment locations into a single blockchain structure. Each location maintains its own verification process but contributes to a unified, immutable chain of custody that combines the reliability of distributed verification with the simplicity of a single tracking interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The blockchain acts as an intermediary layer between different tracking systems and stakeholders. It mediates the exchange of verification data between manufacturing, shipping, and delivery locations while maintaining data integrity through cryptographic verification, simplifying operations without compromising reliability.
3Loss of information
If detailed shipment location tracking is implemented, then shipment transparency is improved, but system complexity and data management burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each shipment location automatically generates and adds its own verification record to the blockchain without requiring manual intervention from other locations. The system serves itself by having each participant independently contribute verified data, achieving high transparency without proportionally increasing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The blockchain provides immediate feedback to each shipment location about the status and verification of tracking data. This automated feedback mechanism reduces the need for manual data management and verification, as the system self-validates the consistency and integrity of tracking information across all locations.
Data Source
AI summary
A blockchain of transactions may be referenced for various purposes and may be later accessed by interested parties for ledger verification. One example method of operation may comprise one or more of identifying shipment locations for a product shipment, storing the shipment locations in a local blockchain, transmitting the shipment locations to a remote blockchain, comparing the shipment locations of the remote blockchain with the shipment locations stored in the local blockchain, and verifying the shipment locations of the remote blockchain are consistent with the shipment locations stored in the local blockchain.