Data Supply Chain Object for Edge Provenance Tracking

Solution Overview

Problem

Current data processing systems face challenges in tracking the lifecycle, ownership, and authenticity of data in edge computing environments, particularly in decentralized and distributed ecosystems, where non-linear evolution of data, integration with creative tools, efficient handling of large datasets, and legal considerations such as licensing and copyright management are complex.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a data supply chain (DSC) object that integrates change control management techniques with edge compute services and edge data serialization, utilizing a blockchain to record data provenance and enforce data protection, allowing for decentralized and secure tracking of data evolution, ownership, and usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If decentralized data tracking is implemented in edge computing environments, then data provenance and authenticity are improved, but system complexity and difficulty of implementation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata provenanceVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a data supply chain object as an intermediary data structure that mediates between raw data and blockchain storage. This object encapsulates data provenance information, transformation metadata, and cryptographic hashes, simplifying the complexity of direct decentralized tracking while maintaining reliability through its structured approach to recording data lifecycle events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments data provenance tracking into modular components: data supply chain objects for individual data items, transformation objects for processing events, and a hierarchical structure that separates data metadata from actual data storage. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity by allowing independent management of different provenance aspects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If comprehensive data lifecycle tracking is implemented, then ownership and authenticity monitoring are improved, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveownership trackingVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only essential provenance information into data supply chain objects, storing minimal critical data (hashes, timestamps, transformation metadata) rather than complete data lifecycles. This selective extraction enables precise ownership tracking while reducing processing time by avoiding analysis of unnecessary data details.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary hashing and validation of data before full blockchain commitment. Data supply chain objects are pre-processed and validated locally at edge devices, preparing provenance information in advance so that blockchain operations only require final confirmation, thereby reducing overall processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If blockchain is used to record data provenance, then data authenticity and security are improved, but storage efficiency and scalability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata authenticityVSAvoidstorage efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only essential provenance information into data supply chain objects, storing minimal critical data (hashes, timestamps, transformation metadata) rather than complete data lifecycles. This selective extraction enables precise ownership tracking while reducing processing time by avoiding analysis of unnecessary data details.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary hashing and validation of data before full blockchain commitment. Data supply chain objects are pre-processed and validated locally at edge devices, preparing provenance information in advance so that blockchain operations only require final confirmation, thereby reducing overall processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11637687B2Methods and apparatus to determine provenance for data supply chains

Publication Date: 2023.04.25 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to determine provenance for data supply chains are disclosed. Example instructions cause a machine to at least, in response to data being generated, generate a local data object and object metadata corresponding to the data; hash the local data object; generate a hash of a label of the local data object; generate a hierarchical data structure for the data including the hash of the local data object and the hash of the label of the local data object; generate a data supply chain object including the hierarchical data structure; and transmit the data and the data supply chain object to a device that requested access to the data.