Secure Print Job Exchange via Smart Contract Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for sharing information between clients and print service providers are insecure, leading to inaccurate quotes, fraud, and loss of business, as clients may not want to share sensitive document details due to security concerns.
Innovation Solution
A print management service encrypts print job data and generates a smart contract with partial parameters, posted on a blockchain, allowing secure exchange and execution of print jobs while maintaining client anonymity and ensuring payment only upon delivery confirmation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the client shares full print job information with potential suppliers, then the suppliers can generate accurate quotes, but the client's sensitive information may be exposed to security risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the information exchange process into distinct phases: a first phase where only non-sensitive parameters are shared for quote generation, and a second phase where full access is granted after contract award. This segmentation allows quote accuracy to be maintained while protecting sensitive information during the negotiation phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by having suppliers submit bids based on limited parameters before the client shares full access to the print job. The smart contract is established and awarded to a supplier based on this preliminary information exchange, ensuring security is maintained until the point of no return.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the client does not share sensitive document contents, then security is maintained, but suppliers cannot provide accurate quotes leading to loss of business opportunities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic information sharing model where the level of information disclosure changes based on the stage of the transaction. Initially, only essential non-sensitive parameters are shared for quoting purposes. After the smart contract is awarded, the system dynamically transitions to full information access, thereby preventing business opportunity loss while maintaining security during the critical negotiation phase.
3Measurement precision
If the system provides full access to print job contents early in the process, then suppliers can bid accurately, but fraud risk increases as suppliers may not actually provide deliverables
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the bidding and contract award process preliminary to providing full access to the print job contents. Suppliers submit bids based on limited parameters, and the smart contract is awarded before the supplier gains access to sensitive document contents. This preliminary structuring ensures bid accuracy while mitigating fraud risk, as the supplier commits to performance before receiving the ability to access and potentially misappropriate the content.
4Device complexity
If the system uses traditional information sharing methods, then the process is simple, but fraud and inaccurate quoting occur leading to reduced productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a smart contract intermediary that mediates the information exchange between client and supplier. The smart contract acts as a trusted intermediary that controls access to print job contents, releasing information only after the contract is awarded. This intermediary mechanism adds some complexity but dramatically improves productivity by eliminating fraud and ensuring accurate quoting, as suppliers cannot access content before being selected.
Data Source
AI summary
A print management service facilitates the secure exchange of print job information between a client who requests a print job and multiple candidates who may wish to bid on the job. The service generates a smart contract that includes some information about the print job but that omits other information, such as the content to be printed. When a print service provider submits a qualifying bid to a processor that executes the smart contract, the smart contract will award the job to that provider, and the print service provider will then receive access to the full content of the print job. The smart contract may require proof of work to trigger payment from the client to the service provider upon completion of the print job.