Computer Implemented Method for Supply Chain Management and Provenance in a Data Processing Network

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention introduces a blockchain-based system for managing and tracing the provenance of goods in a supply chain. It uses non-fungible digital tokens, implemented via smart contracts (such as on Ethereum), to represent units or batches of physical goods. At each step of production and transformation, actions are recorded on a distributed ledger, allowing goods to be split, merged, transferred, or consumed, and their history to be transparently tracked across multiple business entities. Certifications and standards compliance can also be integrated into the tokens, enhancing multi-tier traceability and quality assurance.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Tracking the origin and transformation of food items through multi-stage supply chains for food safety and regulatory compliance.
• Preventing counterfeiting by recording and verifying the authenticity of high-value goods (e.g., pharmaceuticals, luxury products, diamonds).
• Enabling consumers to check ethical or ecological certifications associated with products, such as 'organic', 'fair trade', or 'sustainably sourced'.
• Streamlining recalls and managing product quality in manufacturing by being able to quickly trace affected batches or components.
• Sharing verifiable supply chain data among business partners, auditors, and regulators without relying on centralized parties.
• Certifying and auditing compliance in sectors needing documented provenance, like timber, metals, or electronics.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enhances transparency and verifiability in complex, multi-tiered supply chains by providing immutable, distributed records.
• Allows tracking of not just final goods, but all intermediate components and their transformations, overcoming limitations of conventional centralized systems.
• Reduces fraud and counterfeiting by providing tamper-proof proof of origin, ownership, and certification.
• Improves recall efficiency and quality management by enabling precise identification of affected batches or components.
• Supports compliance with international standards (e.g., ISO, food safety regulations) and provides evidence for audits and consumer trust.
• Facilitates decentralized trust between participants, removing the need for a single trusted central operator.
• Scalable to handle millions of transactions through efficient contract and event design, with optimized operational costs.

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Patent Abstract

A computer-implemented method for supply chain provenance in a data processing network, wherein the network has at least one physical node and the network is configured to perform at least one blockchain process; wherein the blockchain process is configured to process digital tokens by means of at least one smart contract, wherein tokens correspond to at least one unit of a good and a batch of goods in the supply chain; wherein every token is uniquely identifiable; and wherein the method comprises executing a specific one of the at least one smart contract for every production step of the supply chain.