NFT Provenance Control Structures for Secure Asset Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing asset tracking systems lack robust security and authorization checks, making assets and data vulnerable to manipulation and compromise during transfer, particularly in computer networked environments.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing non-fungible tokens (NFTs) with secure control structures to encapsulate metadata objects, restricting output based on off-chain data attributes, and employing smart contracts for authorization and encryption to protect assets and data integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing asset tracking systems are used, then asset exchange in networked environments is enabled, but security and authorization checks are insufficient making assets vulnerable to manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nested control structures where control structures encapsulate NFTs, which in turn encapsulate metadata objects. This nested architecture provides multiple layers of security and authorization checks while maintaining a manageable system structure. The control structure contains authorization logic, the NFT contains provenance data, and the metadata object contains asset information, creating a secure layered system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments asset tracking into distinct components: control structures for authorization, NFTs for provenance tracking, and metadata objects for data storage. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function securely and independently, improving overall system reliability without requiring complete system redesign.
2Ease of operation
If metadata objects are made accessible, then asset information can be retrieved, but private information may be exposed
Solution Approach 1:
The control structure implements local quality by providing different access levels and authorization rules for different parts of the metadata object. Not all metadata fields are equally accessible; the system can grant access to specific attributes based on user roles, transaction context, or other authorization criteria, thereby exposing only necessary information while protecting sensitive data.
Solution Approach 2:
The control structure acts as an intermediary between the metadata object and the user. It sits between the accessible metadata and the private information, filtering and authorizing access requests. This intermediary layer allows the system to maintain data accessibility for legitimate users while preventing unauthorized exposure of private information.
3Reliability
If NFTs are restricted to specific outputs, then authorization and security are improved, but system flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control structure implements dynamic authorization by allowing output restrictions to be changed based on runtime conditions. The system can adapt access rules based on transaction context, user identities, temporal conditions, or other dynamic factors. This dynamic approach maintains security through restrictions while preserving flexibility through conditional access rules that can respond to changing system states.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media to track provenance of assets utilizing non-fungible tokens (NFTs). One method includes receiving a provenance request, generating a first non-fungible token (NFT) encapsulated with a first control structure, generating a second NFT encapsulated within a second control structure, and tracking provenance of assets utilizing the first NFT and second NFT.