Distributed Ledger Device Management with Segmented Registries

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mechanisms lack an efficient and reliable way for entities involved in computing device production and maintenance to share and ensure the accuracy and consistency of device data, leading to difficulties in device management and data reconciliation.

Innovation Solution

A distributed ledger system is implemented, featuring a device registry, software registry, transaction management components, and access control components to record and manage device and software transactions, enforce access policies, and facilitate ownership changes, using tokens and smart contracts for secure and transparent data management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a distributed ledger system is implemented to track devices and software licenses, then data accuracy and consistency are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accuracy and consistencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments device tracking and software license management into separate modules (device registry and software registry) within the distributed ledger framework. Each registry operates independently but maintains consistency through the underlying blockchain consensus mechanism, allowing the system to achieve high reliability without overwhelming complexity by dividing functionality into manageable segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The distributed ledger acts as an intermediary layer between device manufacturers, software vendors, and service providers. This mediator ensures data accuracy and consistency across all entities without requiring complex point-to-point verification systems, simplifying the overall architecture while maintaining high reliability through the ledger's consensus protocol.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If distributed ledger technology is used to enable multiple entities to access device data, then data sharing efficiency is improved, but access control difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata sharing efficiencyVSAvoidaccess control difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The distributed ledger system implements a universal access control framework that serves multiple entities (device manufacturers, software vendors, service providers) simultaneously. The smart contract-based access control mechanism provides a single, unified solution that handles diverse access requirements across all entity types, improving data sharing efficiency while managing access control complexity through a standardized approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms through smart contracts that automatically monitor and enforce access control policies. When access requests are made, the system provides immediate feedback through the consensus protocol to verify authorization, enabling efficient data sharing while maintaining secure access control through automated verification rather than manual processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3871121B1Distributed ledger system that facilitates device management
Publication Date: 2023.03.15 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3871121B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3871121B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3871121B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A distributed ledger system includes a device registry and a software registry. The device registry includes a plurality of device identifiers. Each device identifier uniquely identifies a device that has been registered with the distributed ledger system. The software registry includes a plurality of software license identifiers. Each software license identifier uniquely identifies a software license that has been registered with the distributed ledger system. The distributed ledger system also includes transaction management components that are configured to record device transaction information associated with the plurality of devices and software transaction information associated with the plurality of software licenses. The distributed ledger system also includes access control components that are configured to enforce access control policies related to the plurality of devices and the plurality of software licenses.