Machine-Readable Code Chain for Product Custody Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fraudulent parts, such as IC chips and downstream products, can be inserted into legitimate product manufacturing chains, affecting the quality, safety, and security of end products and the reputation of manufacturers.
Innovation Solution
A computing system and method that verifies product custody by comparing machine-readable codes to a database of valid codes, generating new codes for each product level, and invalidating the previous codes to ensure legitimacy and prevent fraudulent use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If machine-readable codes are used to track products through manufacturing levels, then product custody verification capability is improved, but system complexity increases due to database management and code generation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The verification system segments the manufacturing chain into discrete product levels (N and N+1), with each level having its own machine-readable code. This segmentation allows independent verification at each stage while maintaining overall chain integrity, reducing the complexity of tracking entire production batches as a single unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-generating and storing valid machine-readable codes in the database before they are needed for verification. When a product reaches the next manufacturing level, the code is already validated and ready for immediate use, eliminating real-time complex validation computations and reducing system operational complexity.
2Reliability
If machine-readable codes are validated against a database at each product level, then fraudulent product detection is improved, but processing time increases due to repeated database queries and code generation
Solution Approach 1:
Valid machine-readable codes are pre-generated and stored in the database before verification is needed. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex real-time code generation and validation during the verification process, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining fraud detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses copies of valid machine-readable codes stored in the database for verification purposes. Instead of performing complex cryptographic validations or generating new codes during verification, the system compares against pre-stored code copies, enabling rapid verification that prevents fraudulent products while minimizing processing time.
3Reliability
If the first machine-readable code is invalidated after verification, then code reuse by fraudulent products is prevented, but system operations become more complex due to code state management
Solution Approach 1:
The system discards (invalidates) the first machine-readable code after it has been successfully verified and used to generate the next level code. This ensures that each code can only be used once, preventing fraudulent reuse. The code state management is simplified by automatically transitioning codes from valid to invalid state upon verification, rather than requiring complex tracking of code usage histories.
Solution Approach 2:
Machine-readable codes are designed as single-use, disposable elements. Once a code is verified and used to create the next product level code, it is invalidated and cannot be reused. This disposable approach simplifies security management by eliminating the need for complex code lifecycle tracking, while still providing strong protection against fraudulent product insertion through the database validation mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and computerized method verify product custody along a product manufacturing chain. The method may include verifying a first machine-readable (MR) code for a product level N is valid by comparing the first MR code to a database of valid MR codes. Where the first MR code for the product level N is verified as valid, a second, valid MR code is generated for a next product level N+1 in the database of valid MR codes. In addition, the first MR code for the product level N in the database of valid MR codes is invalidated, so it cannot be used again. The second MR code is formed for use with the next product level N+1, e.g., by the downstream product manufacturer. Custody of product levels along a manufacturing chain can be verified and secured, avoiding bad actors from inserting and profiting from fake parts into the manufacturing chain.