Wearable Sensors Transmit Environmental Data to Blockchain

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems face challenges in collecting reliable environmental pollutant exposure information due to the high cost and organizational barriers for deploying sensor networks, as well as the potential for data manipulation by entities controlling the sensors, which hinders effective monitoring and compliance with environmental regulations.

Innovation Solution

A wearable computing device equipped with environmental and positioning sensors that transmit data to a blockchain storage system, ensuring secure and tamper-proof collection and storage of environmental condition values and positions, utilizing cryptographic signatures to maintain data integrity and incentivizing participation through rewards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional sensor networks are deployed to collect environmental data, then measurement coverage is improved, but system cost and organizational complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental data collectionVSAvoidsensor network deployment

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables individual users to self-deploy wearable sensors that automatically collect and report environmental data to the blockchain network without requiring centralized coordination or infrastructure deployment. Each user's device independently performs sensing, data processing, and blockchain interaction, eliminating the need for complex organizational structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system divides the environmental monitoring function across numerous independent wearable devices worn by individual users, rather than deploying a centralized sensor network. This segmentation transforms a complex organizational deployment problem into many simple individual device deployments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If centralized sensor networks are used, then data collection capability is improved, but data reliability deteriorates due to potential manipulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental monitoringVSAvoiddata integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The blockchain network serves as an intermediary layer between the wearable sensors and the environmental monitoring system. It provides a decentralized, tamper-proof ledger that records sensor data immutably, preventing any single entity from manipulating the data while maintaining comprehensive environmental monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary cryptographic hashing and verification of sensor data before it is stored on the blockchain. This preliminary action ensures data integrity is established at the source, preventing future manipulation and ensuring reliability without requiring continuous centralized oversight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Area of stationary object

If multiple users participate in data collection, then data coverage is improved, but system security worsens due to potential data manipulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata coverageVSAvoiddata security

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The blockchain network provides immediate feedback through cryptographic verification mechanisms that detect and reject manipulated data. Each user's data submission is independently verified by the network, creating a feedback loop that maintains security while allowing broad participation. The system also incorporates incentive feedback through rewards for valid data contributions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system accepts data submissions from all users (excessive action) but only validates and stores those that meet cryptographic verification criteria (partial action). This approach allows broad participation to improve coverage while the verification filter ensures security by rejecting manipulated data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Reliability

If blockchain storage is implemented, then data integrity is improved, but storage cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidstorage resources

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential integrity-verifying elements (cryptographic hashes and verification data) to the blockchain, while storing the actual environmental sensor data locally or in cheaper off-chain storage. This separation allows blockchain to provide integrity guarantees without bearing the full cost of storing all raw data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11405184B2Systems and methods for securely processing environmental exposure information

Publication Date: 2022.08.02 LOREAL SA

AI summary

A wearable computing device is provided that comprises one or more environmental sensors, one or more positioning sensors, and a communication interface. In some embodiments, the wearable computing device is configured to activate at least one environmental sensor of the one or more environmental sensors to obtain at least one environmental condition value; activate at least one positioning sensor of the one or more positioning sensors to determine a position of the wearable computing device; activate the communication interface; and transmit the at least one environmental condition value and the position for storage in a blockchain storage system.