Secure Product Tracking via Segmented Coding Scheme
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current product tracking systems are inadequate in preventing fraud and ensuring data integrity throughout the supply chain, particularly in industries like food and electronics, due to lack of secure and comprehensive tracking methods.
Innovation Solution
A unique coding scheme is implemented, comprising a security code issued by a sole certification agency, with public and encrypted parts, allowing secure tracking and access to information across the supply chain, using industry-standard labeling such as 2D or 3D bar codes, RFID, or micro-dots, and a central database for certified participants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional tracking system is used, then the system is simple to implement, but it cannot prevent fraud and ensure data integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking code is divided into multiple segments including a first portion visible to consumers and a second portion encrypted and stored in the database. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity for end-users while implementing complex security measures in the background, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A certification agency is introduced as an intermediary to issue and manage tracking codes. This intermediary handles the complex cryptographic operations and data verification, allowing the tracking system itself to remain relatively simple while achieving high reliability through the intermediary's security protocols.
2Loss of information
If full product information is made public, then consumer awareness is improved, but private business information may be exposed
Solution Approach 1:
Product information is segmented into public portions (first code portion, basic product details) and private portions (encrypted data, business-sensitive information). The public portion provides transparency to consumers while the encrypted portion protects against fraud and preserves competitive advantages, resolving the contradiction between information transparency and fraud prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
Different levels of information quality are provided to different user groups. Consumers receive sufficient information for informed decisions (public code portion), while certified participants access comprehensive verified data (encrypted portion). This local differentiation of information quality addresses both consumer awareness needs and fraud prevention requirements.
3Ease of operation
If a centralized database is used, then data access is simplified, but security vulnerabilities increase
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized database stores data in segmented form with encrypted portions separated from public portions. This segmentation allows simplified access to public information while maintaining security through cryptographic protection of sensitive data, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and security.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of data representation from plain text to encrypted format for sensitive information. This parameter change maintains the centralized database structure for easy access while fundamentally improving security through cryptographic transformation, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and security.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, programmed medium and system are disclosed which provide increased secure tracking of materials and products through the use of a unique coding scheme. The coding scheme contains a unique security code identifier issued by a sole certification agency, and includes a non-coded scheme for public information, and a coded scheme for private information regarding the sourcing and development of materials and products. The disclosure provides for full tracking of a product throughout the supply chain by only certified participants. The disclosed system allows for increased secure tracking of materials and products, and allows for access to greater amounts of information at various stages of manufacture and/or assembly regarding a given material or product.