Measurement Data Block Chaining for Tamper-Resistant Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for recording and verifying measurement data are vulnerable to manipulation and require significant storage resources.

Innovation Solution

The method involves grouping measurement data into blocks where each block contains at least one shared measurement value, allowing blocks to be chained together, and calculating signature values for each block to protect against undetected deletion and reduce storage requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If measurement data is stored in separate blocks with individual signatures, then verification of each block is straightforward, but the storage requirements increase and manipulation becomes easier

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidstorage requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges adjacent measurement blocks by having each block contain at least one measurement value that is also contained in another block. This overlapping structure combines multiple blocks into a chain where each block serves dual purposes: storing its own measurements and providing verification for adjacent blocks through shared values.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing signature values for blocks before verification occurs. The signature values are computed in advance based on the block contents and stored alongside the measurement data, enabling rapid verification without recomputing signatures during the verification phase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If each block contains unique measurement values, then storage efficiency is improved, but detection of block deletion becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage efficiencyVSAvoiddetection of manipulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By merging blocks through shared measurement values, the patent creates an interdependent structure where deletion of any block breaks the chain of shared values. This makes manipulation detection easier while maintaining storage efficiency, as the overlap provides verification capability without duplicating entire blocks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If blocks are chained with shared measurement values, then manipulation detection is enhanced, but the complexity of the verification process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanipulation detectionVSAvoidverification process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the verification process into simple, repeatable steps: for each block, verify its signature and check that its shared measurement values match adjacent blocks. This segmentation breaks down the complex verification task into manageable units that can be processed systematically, reducing overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If measurement data is protected with signatures, then data integrity is improved, but storage requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata protectionVSAvoidstorage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of multiple blocks by having them share measurement values, which reduces the total number of unique measurements that need to be stored. This merging approach maintains data protection through signatures while reducing overall storage requirements compared to completely separate blocks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4542428B1Method for recording and verifying measured values, and corresponding devices and measuring arrangement
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 TESTO SE & CO KGAA
  • EP4542428B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4542428B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention generally proposes a method for recording a field (1) of measured values ​​(2), in which the measured values ​​(2) are grouped into blocks (5) and signature values ​​(6) are calculated for each block (5), wherein at least one block (5a) contains a measured value (2') that is also contained in at least one other block (5b). Such a method can be carried out in particular with a measuring arrangement (21), recording device (15) and verification device (18) according to the invention (see Fig. 1).