Supply Chain Carbon Tokens With Privacy-Preserving Blockchain Verification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems fail to effectively reward entities for reducing carbon footprints in supply chains while preserving privacy and efficiently utilizing blockchain technology for sustainable token generation.

Innovation Solution

A blockchain-based system that generates and utilizes sustainable tokens by encrypting order private information, calculating token values based on carbon emission footprints, and assigning them to addresses, while maintaining privacy through off-chain processing of private data and on-chain processing of shared information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If private information is stored on-chain for token generation, then transparency and traceability are improved, but data security and privacy are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetransparencyVSAvoidprivacy risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments information into public and private components. Public information (order details, token amounts) is stored on-chain for transparency, while private information (carbon footprint data, entity identities) is kept off-chain in encrypted form. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both transparency for verification and privacy for sensitive data protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces cryptographic hash functions and encrypted data structures as intermediaries between private information and the blockchain. Private data is transformed through hashing and encryption before being stored on-chain, acting as a mediator that preserves privacy while enabling verification. The encrypted carbon footprint data serves as an intermediary that maintains data security while allowing token calculation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If all order information is processed on-chain, then data integrity is improved, but computational efficiency is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments processing into on-chain and off-chain components. Computationally intensive operations (carbon footprint calculation, encryption/decryption of private data) are performed off-chain, while only essential verification and token assignment occur on-chain. This segmentation maintains data integrity through blockchain verification while improving processing efficiency by moving heavy computations off the blockchain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary processing of order information off-chain before submitting to the blockchain. Carbon footprint data is calculated and encrypted beforehand, and order details are prepared in advance. This preliminary action reduces the computational burden on the blockchain, improving processing efficiency while maintaining data integrity through cryptographic verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If carbon footprint data is made public for verification, then transparency is improved, but competitive advantage is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveverification transparencyVSAvoidloss of competitive advantage
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses cryptographic hash functions and encrypted data structures as intermediaries to enable verification without exposing sensitive carbon footprint data. The hash of the carbon footprint data is stored on-chain for verification purposes, while the actual data remains encrypted and private. This intermediary approach allows third parties to verify token calculations without accessing proprietary environmental information that could harm competitive advantage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different levels of transparency to different data elements. Public information (order details, token amounts) is fully transparent on-chain, while sensitive information (carbon footprint data, entity identities) maintains local privacy through encryption. This local quality approach allows verification where needed while protecting competitive advantages in specific data domains.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12481935B2Sustainable tokens for supply chain with privacy preserving protocol
Publication Date: 2025.11.25 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION
  • US12481935B2 patent drawing
  • US12481935B2 patent drawing
  • US12481935B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A computer-implemented system and method provide a privacy preserving token generation protocol. The method comprises initiating an order request, where the order request includes order public information and order private information. The method further comprises generating an address in a blockchain network that includes encrypting the address using a private key, and generating a hash of data incorporating the order private information and a signature of the hash. The signature of the hash is generated using the private key. The method further comprises transmitting the order request with the address, hash, and signature to a transport associated with the order, and identifying that the transport fulfilled the order request. The method further comprises validating that the transport fulfilled the order, calculating a token value associated with the transport, where the token value is related to a carbon emission footprint of the transport, and assigning the token value to the address.