NFT Software Licensing for Secure Industrial Automation Authorization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing industrial automation systems lack robust mechanisms for ensuring authenticity, tracking, and managing licenses for industrial automation software, as well as securely sharing data across independent entities in a supply chain, leading to potential unauthorized use and trust issues.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a tokenized industrial automation system that utilizes a blockchain to mint non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for software licenses, track product authenticity, and manage supply chain data, ensuring secure and transparent sharing of information through smart contracts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional centralized license management systems are used, then ease of operation is maintained, but security and reliability of software license verification deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a blockchain-based intermediary layer that acts as a decentralized trust mechanism between software vendors and users. The blockchain ledger serves as an impartial mediator that verifies license authenticity without requiring centralized authority, thereby enhancing security while distributing system complexity across multiple nodes rather than concentrating it in a single vulnerable point.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical centralized license management systems with a cryptographic blockchain-based system. Instead of relying on centralized servers and manual verification processes, the system uses cryptographic hashing, digital signatures, and distributed consensus mechanisms to verify software licenses, thereby improving reliability through mathematical security rather than administrative control.
2Reliability
If blockchain technology is implemented for license management, then security and transparency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the license management functionality into distinct modular components: a licensing module that generates licenses, a verification module that validates them, and a blockchain integration layer that stores license hashes. This segmentation allows each component to be developed and maintained independently, reducing the perceived complexity while maintaining the security benefits of the overall blockchain-based system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the blockchain-based license management system to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a license storage mechanism, a verification authority, an audit trail, and a transferable asset registry. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems for each function, thereby managing complexity through consolidation rather than proliferation of separate components.
3Reliability
If non-fungible tokens are used for software licenses, then unauthorized use is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service functionality where the blockchain system automatically verifies license authenticity and enforces authorization rules without requiring manual intervention. The smart contracts automatically validate license tokens, check verification status, and enforce usage rights, thereby maintaining security while reducing the operational burden on users and administrators who no longer need to manually verify licenses.
Data Source
AI summary
Industrial blockchain enabled automation control (e.g., using a computerized tool) is enabled. For example, a system can comprise: a memory that stores executable components, a processor, operatively coupled to the memory, that executes the executable components, the executable components comprising: an authorization component that determines, according to a defined authorization criterion, authorization of a request for a license for industrial automation software, and a license component that, in response to the determination by the authorization component that the request is authorized, mints a non-fungible token comprising the license for the industrial automation software.