Zero Knowledge Proof for Supply Chain Consideration Distribution

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In supply chain traceability management, it is challenging for consumers to determine the environmental contributions of products, and for companies to recover costs for environmental initiatives without disrupting the balance among companies, leading to difficulties in sustaining environmental efforts.

Innovation Solution

A mechanism using a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that acquires cumulative consideration amounts and values across the supply chain, generates consideration amount commitments and zero knowledge proofs, and distributes considerations along the supply chain route, ensuring privacy and reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If cumulative value information is concealed to protect privacy in supply chain, then privacy protection is improved, but ability to verify consideration distribution validity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoidconsideration distribution validity verification

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces zero knowledge proofs as an intermediary mechanism that enables verification of consideration distribution without revealing cumulative value information. The proof acts as a mediator between the need for privacy protection and the need for verification, allowing suppliers to confirm validity while maintaining confidentiality of sensitive data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical information verification systems with cryptographic proof systems. Instead of directly sharing and verifying cumulative value data, the system uses zero knowledge proofs and commitment schemes to enable verification without information disclosure, substituting cryptographic mechanisms for traditional information exchange.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of information

If consideration is distributed along the supply chain route with cumulative value concealment, then privacy protection is improved, but complexity of the distribution mechanism increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecumulative value privacyVSAvoidconsideration distribution mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having each supplier generate a commitment value before receiving consideration. This pre-generated commitment serves as a reference for subsequent verification, simplifying the overall distribution mechanism by establishing verification anchors in advance rather than requiring complex real-time verification of all cumulative values.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by creating commitment copies that can be verified without revealing original cumulative value information. Each supplier receives a copy of the commitment from the downstream supplier, which can be independently verified against their own records without exposing sensitive cumulative value data to other suppliers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If direct receipt of consideration by each supplier is implemented without trusted third party, then system autonomy is improved, but difficulty in ensuring fair distribution increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem autonomyVSAvoidfair consideration distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by requiring each supplier to verify the consideration amount against their recorded cumulative value and commitment information. This self-verification feedback mechanism ensures fair distribution without requiring a trusted third party, as each participant independently confirms they receive the correct amount based on their environmental contributions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables self-service by allowing each supplier to independently verify and receive their consideration without intermediary intervention. Suppliers use their own recorded cumulative values and received commitments to validate the distribution, making the system autonomous while maintaining fairness through cryptographic verification rather than centralized control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12301721B2Storage medium, consideration distribution method, and information management device

Publication Date: 2025.05.13 FUJITSU LTD

AI summary

A storage medium storing an information management program that causes a computer to execute a process that includes acquiring a first cumulative consideration amount from a most upstream process in a plurality of processes included in a supply chain to a first process; generating a consideration amount commitment by concealing the first cumulative consideration amount by using a random number; registering the consideration amount commitment in a blockchain; generating a consideration amount proof that is a zero knowledge proof that proves validity of the second cumulative consideration amount without disclosing the second cumulative consideration amount; and notifying the second process of the second cumulative consideration amount, the random number, and the consideration amount proof.