Tamper-Evident Digital Content via Distributed Ledger Hashing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for detecting digital content tampering, especially in real-time scenarios, are inefficient and costly due to reliance on blockchain-based solutions that require extensive infrastructure and high computational overhead, and lack trusted computing mechanisms to prevent attackers from registering tampered versions as originals.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a computing device that encrypts digital content and sends it to a distributed ledger system for hashing and storage, allowing for the creation of tamper-evident digital content by embedding hash identification data with metadata, enabling real-time integrity verification and alerting users to tampering through comparison of computed and stored hash values.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If blockchain-based solutions are used for digital content verification, then tamper detection capability is improved, but computational overhead and infrastructure complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetamper detection capabilityVSAvoidinfrastructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the digital content into multiple portions and selects specific portions for proof-of-verification, rather than processing the entire content through blockchain. This reduces the computational overhead while maintaining tamper detection capability for critical segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the essential hash identification data from the digital content portions and stores this extracted information in the distributed ledger system, rather than storing the entire content or complex verification structures. This simplifies the infrastructure requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If proof-of-work blockchain is used for content timestamping, then authenticity verification is improved, but transaction costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthenticity verificationVSAvoidtransaction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by selecting only specific portions of digital content for proof-of-verification rather than verifying all content. This reduces the number of blockchain transactions required while maintaining sufficient authenticity verification for the selected critical portions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If manual script execution is used for blockchain verification, then proof of existence is achieved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproof of existenceVSAvoidverification speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and embedding hash identification data into the digital content at the time of content creation or ingestion. This eliminates the need for time-consuming manual script execution later, as the verification data is already prepared and embedded in the content metadata.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If centralized verification systems are used, then verification efficiency is improved, but trust security decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveverification efficiencyVSAvoidtrust security
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a distributed ledger system as an intermediary between content creators and verifiers. This decentralized intermediary maintains verification efficiency through automated hash comparison while enhancing trust security through the distributed and immutable nature of blockchain technology, preventing any single point of failure or manipulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11868509B2Method and arrangement for detecting digital content tampering
Publication Date: 2024.01.09 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • US11868509B2 patent drawing
  • US11868509B2 patent drawing
  • US11868509B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method for creating a tamper-evident digital content. The method includes receiving a portion of the digital content at a computing device. The method further includes encrypting the portion of the digital content by the computing device when the portion of the digital content is selected for proof-of-verification. The method further includes sending the encrypted portion of the digital content from the computing device to a distributed ledger system. The method further includes retrieving, by the computing device, hash identification data associated with the encrypted portion of the digital content from the distributed ledger system. The method further includes creating, by the computing device, an updated portion of the digital content using the retrieved hash identification data. The method further includes storing the updated portion of the digital content in a storage device by the computing device.