Distributed Ledger for Death Certificate Verification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The processing and updating of medical records, particularly death certificates, are cumbersome due to the need for verification through multiple governmental entities, leading to increased time and risk of document loss or fraud.

Innovation Solution

A distributed ledger system, such as a blockchain, is used to securely store and verify death certificate information, allowing for efficient updating of records and reducing fraud risks by providing an immutable and auditable record of certification history.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If death certificate information is verified through multiple governmental entities, then reliability of information is improved, but time required for processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveverification reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple governmental entities are merged into a single distributed ledger system where death certificate information is stored and verified collectively. The blockchain network combines the verification capabilities of multiple entities into one unified system, eliminating the need for sequential verification through each entity separately.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Death certificate information is preliminarily recorded and verified on the distributed ledger at the source (governmental entity), before being accessed by medical record systems. This preliminary verification on the blockchain eliminates the need for repeated verification processes when updating medical records.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If traditional verification processes are used, then document authenticity is confirmed, but risk of document loss or fraud increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocument authenticityVSAvoidrisk of document loss or fraud

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of handling physical death certificate documents, the system uses digital copies stored on the distributed ledger. The blockchain creates immutable digital replicas of death certificate information that can be verified without risking loss or fraud of the original physical document.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical process of physically handling, transporting, and storing paper death certificates is replaced with an electronic distributed ledger system. This substitution eliminates risks associated with physical document handling, such as loss, damage, or fraud.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If multiple governmental entities verify death certificates, then information accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation accuracyVSAvoidverification system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The distributed ledger system serves multiple governmental entities and medical record systems through a single universal platform. The blockchain infrastructure provides a common verification mechanism that all entities can access, reducing the need for separate verification systems at each organization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11341267B1Death certificate information processing techniques

Publication Date: 2022.05.24 UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (USAA)

AI summary

A system includes at least one processor and at least one memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, where the at least one memory stores instructions. When executed by the at least one processor, the instructions are configured to receive death certificate information from a node of a distributed ledger system, determine, a record to be updated based at least in part on the death certificate information, and update the record. The death certificate information and the record are associated with an individual.