Distributed Ledger for Secure Pharmaceutical Fulfillment Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for tracking consumable goods, such as pharmaceuticals, lack sufficient security transparency and visibility, making them prone to fraud, misuse, and theft, especially when relying on manual processes and traditional databases.

Innovation Solution

A distributed ledger ecosystem that includes an identification registry, transaction registry, fulfillment computer subsystem, and a distributed ledger to securely track and validate the status of consumable goods, using cryptographic identifiers and blockchain technology to create immutable records of transactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional manual processes and traditional databases are used to track consumable goods, then the system is easier to operate and simpler to implement, but security transparency and visibility are insufficient, making the system prone to fraud, misuse, and theft

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity transparencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual tracking processes and traditional database systems with a distributed ledger system that uses cryptographic identifiers and blockchain technology. This substitution automates the tracking of consumable goods through immutable digital records, eliminating the need for manual intervention while significantly enhancing security transparency and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a distributed ledger as an intermediary layer between consumers, fulfillment locations, and tracking systems. This intermediary uses cryptographic identifiers to create a trusted, transparent record of transactions without requiring direct trust between parties, thereby improving security while maintaining system accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If conventional databases are used to track prescriptions, then the system is simpler to implement, but the system cannot reliably prevent prescription abuse such as filling the same prescription at multiple locations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefraud prevention capabilityVSAvoidtracking system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional database tracking with a distributed ledger system that uses cryptographic identifiers and blockchain technology. This substitution enables reliable fraud prevention through immutable records that can be verified across multiple locations, preventing prescription abuse while maintaining system simplicity through automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the distributed ledger continuously verifies transaction records and provides real-time visibility into prescription fulfillment status. This feedback loop enables automatic detection and prevention of fraudulent activities such as multiple location fills, enhancing reliability without requiring complex manual oversight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If protective mechanisms are implemented to prevent prescription abuse, then fraud prevention improves, but legitimate consumers find the mechanisms invasive and difficult to manage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprescription securityVSAvoidconsumer usability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex protective mechanisms with an automated distributed ledger system that uses cryptographic identifiers. This substitution eliminates the need for consumer interaction with complex security protocols, as the system automatically verifies and tracks prescriptions through the blockchain, maintaining security while improving usability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the tracking and verification system to serve itself through automated cryptographic validation and immutable record-keeping on the distributed ledger. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual consumer involvement in security processes, thereby maintaining high prescription security while ensuring ease of operation for legitimate consumers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11521166B2Systems and methods for secure fulfillment tracking using a shared registry

Publication Date: 2022.12.06 CABLE TELEVISION LAB INC

AI summary

An ecosystem for monitoring the status of a consumable good is provided. The ecosystem includes an identification registry configured to (i) store identifying information regarding a consumer, and (ii) associate the stored identifying information with a unique cryptographic consumer identifier. The ecosystem further includes a transaction registry configured to (i) receive a fulfillment order for a consumable good, and (ii) generate a unique cryptographic transaction identifier for fulfillment of the fulfillment order. The ecosystem further includes a fulfillment computer subsystem configured to (i) receive the fulfillment order, (ii) verify the consumer identifier, and (iii) validate the transaction identifier. The ecosystem further includes a distributed ledger configured to encode transaction details relating to the fulfillment order.