Distributed Ledger Version Management for User Consent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in ensuring users consent to current terms of service for software programs, particularly in managing version control and identifying authorized users, especially when multiple users share login credentials.
Innovation Solution
A distributed ledger system, such as a blockchain, is used to manage version control by verifying user consent through a network of nodes, performing verification procedures, and updating records to ensure users accept and are identified as consenting to current terms, with smart contracts handling individual and group user consent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a distributed ledger system is used to manage version control and verify user consent, then security and reliability of consent records are improved, but device complexity and system overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the distributed ledger functionality into modular components: nodes that maintain ledger copies, smart contracts that automate consent verification, and verification procedures that check term versions. This segmentation allows the complex distributed ledger system to be managed through independent, specialized modules, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces smart contracts as intermediaries between users and the distributed ledger system. These self-executing contracts automatically verify user consent and manage term version updates, acting as a mediator that simplifies interactions with the complex underlying blockchain infrastructure and reduces the operational burden on system participants.
2Measurement precision
If multiple verification procedures are performed to identify the user who consented, then accuracy of user identification is improved, but processing time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining persistent user identification data in the distributed ledger from the moment consent is given. User identifiers, device information, and consent metadata are recorded and stored in advance, allowing for rapid verification without requiring complex real-time analysis or multiple sequential verification steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual or mechanical verification processes with automated cryptographic verification through smart contracts. The distributed ledger uses cryptographic signatures and digital proofs to automatically verify user identity and consent status, substituting time-consuming manual verification procedures with efficient algorithmic validation.
3Reliability
If access is restricted until user consent is verified, then security against unauthorized access is improved, but ease of operation and user convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically verifying user consent through smart contracts and providing immediate access decisions without requiring manual intervention from administrators or support personnel. Users can independently verify their consent status and resolve access issues through automated procedures, improving convenience while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors user consent status and automatically communicates verification results to users. When consent is verified, the system provides immediate feedback by granting access or providing access keys, eliminating delays and improving user experience while maintaining strict access control.
Data Source
AI summary
A node, of a network of nodes with access to a distributed ledger, receives a request to verify the user has consented to a current version of terms (i.e., current terms) associated with a program. The node obtains, using the distributed ledger, historical consent data indicating a version of the terms to which the user has previously provided consent. The node performs a first verification procedure to determine the user has not consented to the current terms, provides an indication to a user device that the user has not consented to the current terms, and receives, from the user device, a message indicating an acceptance of the current terms. The node performs additional verification procedures to determine that the user is who consented to the current terms and updates the distributed ledger to include a record indicating that the user consented to the current terms.