Blockchain-based supply chain smart recall

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10817829-B2
Application number	US-201815903186-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2018
Priority date	Feb 23, 2018
Publication date	Oct 27, 2020
Grant date	Oct 27, 2020

Abstract

A method for executing a smart recall of a plurality of manufactured units is provided. The method may include, inter alia, using a database architecture to administer a supply chain for the units, assigning each component of the units a distributed ledger (blockchain) identification (ID), and additional pieces of information such as a serial number of the component, a date of manufacture of the component, a location of manufacture of the component, an ID associated with the source of the component, and/or the ID(s) of one or more subcomponent unit(s) of the component. The assigned information is stored in the database architecture. The method may also include generating a private database supplier key and a manufacturer key. The method further includes: transmitting a notice to downstream manufacturers, transmitting a notice to a regulatory agency to implement safety procedures and/or unit and transmitting a recall notice.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A smart recall method for executing a recall of a manufactured unit, the unit formed on a supply chain from a plurality of components, the supply chain formed from a plurality of component manufacturing sources, said plurality of components distributed at a discrete location in the supply chain, each of said components comprising a distributed ledger (blockchain) identification (ID) for identifying the component to a blockchain, and at least two additional pieces of information selected from a group consisting of a serial number of the component, a date of manufacture of the component, a location of manufacture of the component, an ID associated with the source of the component, and/or the ID(s) of one or more unit(s) subcomponents of the component, the smart recall method comprising:
storing, in a database architecture for administering the supply chain, each of the blockchain IDs and the at least two additional pieces of information;
in response to a determination that the unit is determined comprise a defective component, posting to the blockchain a recall or notice of the defect, the call or notice comprising the blockchain ID for the defective component;
in response posting the recall or notice of defect to the blockchain, executing smart contract code associated with the blockchain ID for the defective component, the smart contract code configured to:
transmit a notice to downstream manufacturers of the component and/or unit, the downstream manufacturers identified via a posted transaction comprising the blockchain ID for the defective component:
transmit a notice to a regulatory agency to implement safety procedures;
transmit a recall notice to retailer(s) or customer(s) who have disclosed sale or purchase of the unit which contain the defective component; and
transfer funds into an escrow account for compensation or mitigation activities arising from the defective component;

generating a private database supplier key associated with each component, wherein the private database supplier key enables each component supplier to publish transactions associated with the recall or defect to the blockchain, each of said transactions comprising the blockchain ID; and
generating a private database manufacturer key associated with each component, wherein the private database manufacturer key enables a manufacturer to review transactions associated with the recall or defect associated with components that form part of a device associated with the manufacturer.

2. The smart recall method of claim 1 , wherein a transaction associated with a single component comprises a plurality of subcomponents, each of the subcomponents related to a different supplier.

3. The smart recall method of claim 1 , wherein the serial number of each component is one of etched in, printed on, affixed to a tag which is attached to, or stored as an electronic serial number within, the component.

4. The smart recall method of claim 1 , wherein the serial number of each component consists of one of, a specific sequence of nucleotides in a DNA or an RNA fragment encapsulated in the component in a micro-bead format or nano-bead format and radioactively-tagged molecules held within the component.

5. The smart recall method of claim 1 , wherein a provenance of a component is traceable by any entity having the private database manufacturer key associated with the component.

6. The smart recall method of claim 1 , wherein the unit is one of a plurality of units and all of the plurality of units are formed under identical manufacturing conditions.

7. The smart recall method of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of units is identifiable by a single batch ID.

8. The smart recall method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of components comprises a plurality of Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

9. A smart recall method for executing a recall of a batch of manufactured units, the batch of manufactured units formed on a supply chain from a plurality of unit components, the supply chain formed from a plurality of unit manufacturing sources, each batch distributed at a discrete location in the supply chain, each batch comprising a distributed ledger (blockchain) identification (ID) for identifying the batch to a blockchain, and at least two additional pieces of information selected from a group consisting of a serial number of a component, a date of manufacture of the component, a location of manufacture of the component, an ID associated with the source of the component, and/or the ID(s) of one or more subcomponents of the component, the smart recall mechanism comprising:
storing in a database architecture for administering the supply chain, each of the blockchain IDs and the at least two additional pieces of information;
in response to a determination that the batch is defective, posting to the blockchain a recall of the batch or notice of the defect of the batch, the recall or notice of the defect comprising the blockchain ID for the batch;
upon posting the recall or notice of defect to the blockchain, executing smart contract code associated with the blockchain ID for the batch, the smart contract code: transmitting a notice to downstream manufacturers of the unit and/or batch, transmitting a notice to a regulatory agency to implement safety procedures, transmitting a recall notice to retailer(s) or customer(s) who have disclosed sale or purchase of the batch, and transferring funds into an escrow account for compensation or mitigation activities arising from the defective component;
generating a private database supplier key associated with each unit, wherein the private database supplier key enables each unit supplier to publish transactions associated with the recall or defect to the blockchain, each of said transactions including the blockchain ID; and
generating a private database manufacturer key associated with each unit that forms part of the batch associated with a manufacturer, the private database manufacturer key that enables the manufacturer to review transactions associated with the recall or defect associated with the batch.

10. The smart recall method of claim 9 , wherein each unit in the batch is physically connected to form a single physical unit.

11. The smart recall method of claim 9 , wherein the serial number of the batch is one of etched in, printed on, affixed to a tag which is attached to, or stored as an electronic serial number within, the batch.

12. The smart recall method of claim 9 , wherein a provenance of a batch is traceable by any entity having a private database manufacturer key associated with the batch.

13. The smart recall method of claim 9 , wherein each unit in the batch is formed under identical manufacturing conditions.

14. The smart recall method of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of units comprises an identical group of subcomponents.

15. The smart recall method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of unit components comprises a plurality of Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

16. A method for executing a smart recall of a plurality of manufactured units, the unit formed from a plurality of unit components, a supply chain for the unit formed from a plurality of component manufacturing sources, the method comprising:
using a database architecture to administer the supply chain;
distributing each of the components at a discrete location in the supply chain;
assigning each of the components a distributed ledger (blockchain) identification (ID), and at least two additional pieces of information selected from a group consisting of a serial number of the component, a date of

Assignees

• Bank Of America

Inventors

• Jacobson William P
• Checco John C

Classifications

• H04L9/50

  using hash chains, e.g. blockchains or hash trees · CPC title

• G06Q10/0837 Primary

  Return transactions · CPC title

• H04L9/3239

  involving non-keyed hash functions, e.g. modification detection codes [MDCs], MD5, SHA or RIPEMD · CPC title

• H04L63/0442

  wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30) · CPC title

• G06F21/64

  Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures · CPC title