Pathway Article Authentication Using Blockchain Markers

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Solution Overview

Problem

The transition period for vehicles with autonomous driving technology, ADAS, and traditional human-operated vehicles sharing roads is prolonged due to practical constraints like vehicle lifespan, infrastructure costs, and time for replacement, necessitating a robust and secure system for authenticating pathway articles to enhance safety and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of pathway-article assisted vehicles (PAAVs) that use blockchain-managed authentication information to verify the authenticity of pathway articles, allowing them to control operations based on authentic articles, thereby improving navigation efficiency and safety across various environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional authentication methods are used for pathway articles, then system complexity is reduced, but security and reliability of vehicle operation are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A blockchain-based authentication system serves as an intermediary between pathway articles and PAAVs. The blockchain network validates article authenticity through distributed consensus, eliminating the need for complex centralized authentication infrastructure while ensuring high reliability. The marker communication information acts as a simple intermediary that carries authentication data between the physical article and the vehicle system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical or centralized authentication systems with a decentralized blockchain-based digital authentication mechanism. Instead of relying on complex physical security infrastructure or centralized databases, the system uses cryptographic validation distributed across a network, reducing overall system complexity while enhancing security and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If blockchain-based authentication is implemented, then security and authenticity verification are improved, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthenticity verificationVSAvoidauthentication time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Authentication information is embedded in markers that are pre-placed on pathway articles during installation. The marker communication information is prepared in advance and stored on the blockchain network before the vehicle needs verification. This preliminary preparation allows for rapid authentication when the vehicle approaches, minimizing processing time while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses marker communication information that copies essential authentication data from the blockchain ledger into a compact format that can be quickly read by the vehicle's information system. This copying mechanism allows the vehicle to verify authenticity without querying the entire blockchain network, significantly reducing authentication time while maintaining verification reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If pathway articles are authenticated using embedded codes, then navigation safety is enhanced, but manufacturing and installation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation safetyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The marker system serves multiple functions: it provides navigation information to vehicles, embeds authentication data for security verification, and can include additional communication information for future expansions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems, thereby lowering overall manufacturing and installation costs while enhancing navigation safety through integrated authentication.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes existing pathway articles and modifies them by adding marker communication information with specific parameter structures that enable authentication. By changing the information parameters rather than the physical article parameters, the system achieves enhanced security at minimal manufacturing cost, as the modifications are primarily informational rather than structural.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3665635B1Pathway article authentication
Publication Date: 2023.10.25 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES CO
  • EP3665635B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3665635B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3665635B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The disclosure is directed to an article, such as a pathway article or a sheeting. The article includes a physical surface having a code embodied thereon. The code is associated with pathway information in transaction data stored by a blockchain managed by a consensus network of node. The pathway information indicates one or more characteristics of a vehicle pathway, wherein the pathway information provides at least one of: information descriptive of at least a portion of the vehicle pathway, or vehicle operation instructions associated with the portion of the vehicle pathway.