Device Ownership Validation via Blockchain Genesis Records

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Solution Overview

Problem

Tracking the provenance and ownership of devices added to cloud computing resources is challenging, making it difficult to ensure trust and prevent malicious code or tampering.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that involves receiving a request for device validation, reading a genesis record from the device, and validating ownership through a chain of replicated blocks, including the genesis record and subsequent transfer blocks, using multiple processing entities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional device tracking methods are used, then device management is simple, but device provenance cannot be reliably tracked and trust cannot be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice trustworthinessVSAvoidtracking system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ownership history is segmented into discrete blocks (genesis block, transfer blocks) that are chained together. Each block contains specific ownership transition information and is linked to the previous block through cryptographic hashing, creating a modular structure that ensures reliability while maintaining manageable complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A blockchain-based ownership ledger acts as an intermediary between device owners and verification systems. This intermediary maintains an immutable record of ownership transfers, enabling trust verification without requiring direct communication or verification between all parties in the device lifecycle

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If device ownership tracking is implemented, then device provenance can be tracked, but tracking efficiency and speed decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprovenance information retentionVSAvoidtracking verification time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Ownership information is recorded in advance in the blockchain ledger as devices are transferred between owners. The genesis block and subsequent transfer blocks are created and chained before verification is needed, allowing rapid verification by simply checking the cryptographic links in the existing chain without time-consuming tracking processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The blockchain creates an immutable copy of the ownership record that can be verified independently. Multiple nodes maintain replicated copies of the blockchain, allowing verification to be performed against any copy without accessing the original device or owner, significantly reducing verification time while preserving complete provenance information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS12204634B2Secure device tracking via device ownership service

Publication Date: 2025.01.21 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A computer implemented method includes receiving a request for device validation, reading a genesis record from a device, the genesis record containing a device identification (ID), an original owner ID, a current owner ID, and a first hash of the device ID, an original owner ID, a current owner ID, and validating, by multiple processing entities having replicated copies of a chain that includes the genesis record and a succeeding transfer block, ownership of the device.