Blockchain Traceability With Zero-Knowledge Privacy and Item Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blockchain-based traceability systems lack privacy-preserving mechanisms, failing to protect confidential business information and maintain identity anonymity and unlinkability, and do not support efficient splitting and merging of traceable items.
Innovation Solution
A blockchain-based traceability system utilizing zero-knowledge proofs and one-time identities, combined with cryptographic primitives, enables data confidentiality, verifiability, and unlinkability while allowing for the splitting and merging of traceable items, and traversal of traceability records.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all traceability data is made visible on the blockchain for verification, then data verifiability is improved, but data confidentiality and privacy are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments traceability data into public components (hashes, proofs, metadata) that can be verified on-chain and private components (actual product information, business secrets) that remain confidential. This is achieved through cryptographic segmentation where sensitive data is hashed or encrypted before blockchain storage, allowing verification of data integrity without exposing the underlying confidential information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cryptographic intermediaries including zero-knowledge proofs, commitment schemes, and encrypted data structures that act as mediators between data verifiability and confidentiality requirements. These cryptographic mechanisms enable verification of traceability claims without revealing the actual sensitive data, serving as an intermediary layer that satisfies both opposing requirements.
2Measurement precision
If entity identities are made transparent for traceability purposes, then traceability accuracy is improved, but identity anonymity and unlinkability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments identity information into linking components (cryptographic proofs, commitment hashes) that enable traceability verification and concealed components (actual entity identities) that maintain anonymity. Entities are represented by cryptographic identifiers rather than direct identity disclosure, allowing system to verify relationships without exposing sensitive identity information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses cryptographic copies and representations of entity identities rather than the identities themselves. Commitment schemes create binding representations that can be verified and linked for traceability purposes while the original sensitive identity information remains protected. These cryptographic copies maintain the functional requirements of traceability without compromising anonymity.
3Reliability
If cryptographic verification mechanisms are implemented for all traceable items, then data verifiability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary cryptographic actions during data ingestion and registration phases, where commitments, hashes, and proofs are pre-computed and stored with the traceability data. This preliminary cryptographic processing eliminates the need for complex real-time verification computations during traceability queries, reducing system complexity during operation while maintaining strong verifiability guarantees.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a computer implemented method of providing a blockchain based traceability service. The method comprises, for each secret from a set of secrets associated with respective ones of a set of parameters for a traceable item, generating a proof to provide a set of proofs. The method includes generating a ciphertext based on a public data encryption key from a set of public data encryption keys associated with said parameters for the traceable item, and information of said traceable item. The preceding step is repeated for each pair of identifier and public data encryption key. The method involves uploading to the blockchain the generated ciphertext, the respective identifier, a hash value of the respective secret, and the respective proof for each parameter of the traceable item, verifying in the blockchain the set of uploaded proofs, and storing verified data in the blockchain.