Part Scanner Blockchain Authentication Surface Descriptors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Supply chains face challenges in tracking component provenance and identifying counterfeit components, particularly in critical systems like aircraft navigation and military equipment, where inferior quality counterfeit components can pose hazards.
Innovation Solution
A part scanner system connected to a blockchain platform that captures images of components, generates surface descriptors, and stores authentication records to verify the authenticity of parts across the supply chain, using a user interface with input components to manage authentication and storage processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional supply chain tracking methods are used, then the system is simpler and easier to operate, but the reliability and ability to detect counterfeit components is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy of the physical component's surface characteristics by capturing images and generating surface descriptors. These digital replicas are stored on a blockchain platform, allowing authentication without physically examining the actual component. The surface descriptor serves as a unique fingerprint that can be verified against the blockchain record, enabling reliable counterfeit detection while keeping the authentication device relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a blockchain platform as an intermediary between component manufacturers and users. This decentralized ledger serves as a neutral third party that stores and verifies authentication records. The blockchain acts as a mediator that establishes trust without requiring direct verification between parties, thereby improving reliability while maintaining operational simplicity through standardized authentication workflows.
2Reliability
If blockchain technology is integrated for part authentication, then the security and provenance tracking improve, but the device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service authentication where the system automatically captures images, generates surface descriptors, and performs blockchain verification without requiring manual intervention. The part scanner autonomously completes the entire authentication workflow, from data collection to verification, reducing operational complexity despite the underlying blockchain technology. Users simply need to present the component for automatic scanning and verification.
3Measurement precision
If detailed surface descriptors are generated for authentication, then the measurement precision and counterfeit detection accuracy improve, but the processing time and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential surface characteristics needed for authentication by generating surface descriptors from captured images. Rather than processing and storing entire high-resolution images, the system extracts key geometric and textural features that uniquely identify the component. This extraction approach maintains high measurement precision for authentication purposes while significantly reducing processing time and data storage requirements compared to using full images.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed comprising: connecting, by a part scanner, to a blockchain platform; outputting a user interface, the user interface including at least a first input component and a second input component; capturing an image of a surface of a part; outputting the image in the user interface; generating a surface descriptor based on the image; when the first input component is activated, attempting to store, in the blockchain platform, an authentication record that is generated based on the surface descriptor, and outputting, in the user interface, an indication of an outcome of the attempt to store the authentication record in the blockchain platform; and when the second input component is activated, attempting to authenticate the part based on the surface descriptor and outputting, in the user interface, an indication of an outcome of the attempt to authenticate the part.