Cryptographic Supply Chain Tracking via Distributed Ledger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional logistics tracking methods struggle to maintain accurate provenance of goods throughout the supply chain, especially when items are re-packaged or re-combined, requiring uniform identifiers across companies which is impractical.
Innovation Solution
A cryptographic tracking system that uses private and public keys to create verifiable records in a distributed consensus network, enabling the tracking of goods' provenance and ownership transfer despite re-packaging or transformation, by minting cryptographic codes and publishing them to a public ledger.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional database tracking methods are used with uniform identifiers, then tracking accuracy is improved, but adaptability to repackaging and re-combining operations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the tracking identifier into two independent components: a persistent cryptographic identifier that remains unchanged through repackaging, and a mutable package description that adapts to different packaging configurations. This segmentation allows the core identity to be preserved while accommodating changes in physical packaging structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cryptographic hash function as an intermediary that transforms the package description into a standardized identifier. This intermediary layer decouples the physical packaging changes from the tracking identifier, allowing accurate tracking without requiring uniform packaging identifiers across different companies.
2Reliability
If cryptographic tracking system is implemented, then provenance verification is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses cryptographic hash copies of the package description as identifiers rather than storing or transmitting the full package information. This copying approach provides verified provenance through cryptographic verification while reducing the complexity of data management and transmission across the supply chain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional database-based tracking mechanisms with a cryptographic verification system. Instead of relying on centralized databases and uniform identifier protocols, the system uses distributed cryptographic verification that can be implemented with simpler local storage and computation at each supply chain node.
3Measurement precision
If uniform identifiers are required across companies, then tracking consistency is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cryptographic hash function serves as a universal identifier generation mechanism that works across different packaging types, companies, and product configurations. This universal approach maintains tracking consistency without requiring companies to adopt specific uniform identifier formats, thereby preserving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows the package description parameters to change freely (different packaging materials, configurations, companies) while the cryptographic hash transformation ensures consistent identifier format. This parameter flexibility maintains ease of operation while achieving tracking consistency through the invariant hash output structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments include a method of tracking a chain of custody of an item in a supply chain. A computer system implements a computer interface with a distributed consensus network comprised of computing devices configured to verify one or more waiting transaction records for addition into one or more blocks in a block chain representing a cryptographically verifiable ledger. The order of the block chain is cryptographically protected against tampering by the computing devices. The computer system can track provenance of the item by identifying an existing record in the block chain. The existing record can place a first quantity of a first stock keeping unit (SKU) at a first address. The computer system can then unitize the item by publishing a new record to the block chain. The new record indicates the existing record as a source record and associates a new SKU with a destination address.