Linking Physical Items to Virtual Content via Blockchain

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current gaming platforms lack an effective method to securely link physical items to virtual content, leading to challenges in verifying activation status and ensuring exclusive access to virtual items.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a pair of cryptographic keys, where a public key is publicly visible and a private key is accessible only to the item owner, manages user accounts and smart contracts on a decentralized database to associate physical items with virtual content, enabling secure activation and access verification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a centralized database is used to link physical items to virtual content, then ease of operation is improved, but security and reliability of activation verification deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a decentralized database (blockchain) as an intermediary between physical items and virtual content. This mediator provides immutable verification of activation status through cryptographic hashing, ensuring security while maintaining ease of operation through automated smart contract execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional centralized database mechanisms with cryptographic mechanisms. Physical items contain cryptographic keys, and activation verification is performed through cryptographic hashing and blockchain consensus, substituting mechanical/trust-based systems with mathematically secure systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If activation verification is made publicly accessible, then transparency and reliability are improved, but unauthorized access and security risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveverification transparencyVSAvoidunauthorized access

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments cryptographic keys into two distinct parts: a public key that is visually accessible for verification transparency, and a private key that remains concealed within the physical item for security. This segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of transparency and security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs asymmetric cryptography where the public key and private key have different properties and functions. The public key is designed to be publicly visible for verification, while the private key is designed to be hidden and protected, creating an asymmetric security model that resolves the contradiction between transparency and security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Reliability

If private key access is restricted to item owners only, then security is improved, but ease of operation and user accessibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoiduser accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the public key as an intermediary that enables users to interact with the system without needing access to the private key. The public key mediates between the secured private key and the user interface, allowing easy activation verification while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If smart contracts are used to manage activation state, then automation and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactivation managementVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service through smart contracts that automatically execute activation verification and state management without human intervention. The system serves itself by automatically detecting activation through cryptographic verification and updating blockchain state, reducing the need for complex manual management processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11565184B1Systems and methods for linking physical items to virtual content

Publication Date: 2023.01.31 MYTHICAL INC

AI summary

Systems and methods for linking physical items to virtual content. Exemplary implementations may: receive a first request to verify whether a first activation of a first item has occurred; if not, transmit a notification in reply to the first request; receive, from a first user, a second request to effectuate the first activation of the first item and to make particular virtual content accessible to the first user; modify state of a smart contract on a decentralized database such that subsequent requests confirm the first activation has occurred; establish a link between the first item and the first user such that the particular virtual content is accessible to the first user; and responsive to the particular virtual content being accessible to the first user, transmit a second notification in reply to the second request.