Resource Conversion Chain Compliance Using NFT Certificates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for managing resource conversion chains, particularly energy production and consumption, lack real-time compliance checks and transparency, leading to data integrity and accountability issues, and do not effectively integrate all market players, resulting in substantial manual reporting and potential data loss.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system using non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for managing resource conversion chains, including compliance checks and digital wallets, ensure real-time tracking and compliance verification through a permissioned blockchain technology, enabling on-time certificate issuance and transfer based on machine-interpretable schemes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If conventional manual reporting and certificate management systems are used, then all market players can be involved in the energy certification process, but data integrity is lost and substantial manual reporting effort is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidmanual reporting complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical reporting processes with an automated digital system using blockchain technology. Smart contracts automatically execute compliance checks and generate certificates when predefined conditions are met, eliminating manual intervention and ensuring data integrity through cryptographic verification. This substitution transforms the mechanical manual reporting system into an automated digital infrastructure.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces blockchain technology as an intermediary layer between market players and certification authorities. This decentralized ledger acts as a trusted mediator that automatically verifies compliance data, manages certificate issuance, and ensures transparent tracking without requiring manual coordination. The blockchain intermediary eliminates the need for complex manual reporting while maintaining data integrity across all participants.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If reporting periods are extended to weeks or months, then manual processing can be completed, but compliance checks are delayed and substantial mitigation effort is needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompliance check timingVSAvoidmitigation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by performing compliance checks continuously and automatically as energy data is generated, rather than waiting for end-of-period manual processing. Smart contracts are pre-programmed with compliance rules and automatically execute verification when data meets predefined criteria, generating certificates in real-time. This preliminary automated action eliminates delays and reduces the need for subsequent mitigation efforts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes continuity of useful action through real-time automated compliance monitoring that operates continuously without interruption. The system continuously receives energy production data, performs compliance verification, and issues certificates as events occur, maintaining an ongoing compliance verification process rather than periodic batch processing. This continuous operation eliminates time losses and improves productivity by preventing compliance issues from accumulating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Loss of information

If grid operators act as middle men managing power purchase agreements, then energy transactions can be coordinated, but data transparency is reduced and integrity risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transparencyVSAvoiddata integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the certification and verification functions from the traditional grid operator middle-man role and places them directly into the hands of market players through decentralized blockchain technology. Each participant can independently verify compliance data and hold their own certificates, removing the need for grid operators to act as data intermediaries. This extraction of verification authority eliminates the transparency and integrity risks associated with centralized control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables market players to perform self-service compliance verification and certificate management through the blockchain system. Each participant can independently upload their compliance data, have it automatically verified by smart contracts, and receive certificates without requiring grid operator intervention. This self-service approach maximizes data transparency while eliminating the integrity risks of manual processing by trusted intermediaries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4597400A1A computer-implemented method and system for managing a re-source conversion chain
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4597400A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4597400A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4597400A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A computer-implemented method and system for managing a resource conversion chain having resource production assets adapted to generate at least one resource and having conversion assets adapted to consume resources for generation of products, the method comprising the steps of: providing (S1) resource related data by records of the assets within the resource conversion chain; performing (S2) a compliance check to evaluate whether the resource related data provided by a record of an asset complies with machine interpretable requirements provided in a scheme; generating (S3) a non-fungible certificate token (CNFT) if the compliance check provides a positive evaluation result; and storing (S4) the generated non-fungible certificate token (CNFT) in a digital wallet.