Method and apparatus for providing a universal deterministically reproducible cryptographic key-pair representation for all SKUs, shipping cartons, and items

• US 9,641,338 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2015
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skuchain, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Skuchain, Inc.
• Inventors: Sriram, Srinivasan, Manian, Zaki N.
• Primary Examiner(s): ABYANEH, ALI S
• Application Number:
  US14/656,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20160269182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 380 44
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/00 Business processing using cryptography
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/06 the encryption apparatus using shift registers or memories for block-wise or stream coding, e.g. DES systems or RC4; Hash functions; Pseudorandom sequence generators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0866 involving user or device identifiers, e.g. serial number, physical or biometrical information, DNA, hand-signature or measurable physical characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0869 involving random numbers or seeds
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/088 Usage controlling of secret information, e.g. techniques for restricting cryptographic keys to pre-authorized uses, different access levels, validity of crypto-period, different key- or password length, or different strong and weak cryptographic algorithms network architectures or network communication protocols for using time-dependent keys in a packet data network H04L63/068
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/30 Public key, i.e. encryption algorithm being computationally infeasible to invert or user's encryption keys not requiring secrecy
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3066 involving algebraic varieties, e.g. elliptic or hyper-elliptic curves
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3242 involving keyed hash functions, e.g. message authentication codes [MACs], CBC-MAC or HMAC

Abstract

A cryptographic representation of value is adapted to goods in production and products at various stages through a supply chain as represented by their stock keeping units or SKU'"'"'s that refer to a unique identifier or code for the particular stock keeping unit. Embodiments of the invention disclose the generation of a universal unique, yet deterministic, key-pair for all SKUs, shipping cartons, and items, i.e. for every single SKU, shipping carton and item on the globe.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for deterministically reproducible, cryptographic key-pair representation for a group of all associated items in a lot of similar items throughout a distribution chain, comprising:

with a processor, generating a master key, wherein generating the master key comprises;

generating a seed byte sequence of a chosen length from a pseudorandom number generator;

hashing a key and said seed byte sequence;

calculating a hash-based message authentication code by using said hashed key and seed byte sequence;

splitting said. hash-based message authentication code into two sequences; and

using one of said sequences as a master secret key and the other of said sequences as a master chain code;

with said processor, generating a plurality of deterministic addresses by using said master secret key;

with said processor, serially associating a deterministic address in a sequence of said deterministic addresses with respective each of the items in said lot of similar items on an item-by-item basis;

with said processor storing said deterministic address from said sequence of deterministic addresses for each of said items in said lot in a public ledger database that is maintained. in a distributed. manner as a blockchain;

with said processor, dynamically updating said public ledger to keep track of each logistic transaction throughout said distribution chain for each of said items in said group; and

with said processor by using said master chain code accessing said public ledger to verify logistic transactions throughout said distribution chain;

said public ledger comprising a provenance management system in which said logistic transactions tracked within said public ledger verify provenance tracking and execute serialization of said items throughout said distribution chain.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using said seed byte sequence as a public address that identifies any of a manufacturer, shipper, or relevant owning authority;

adding a sequence number to said public address; and

adding a seed byte sequence of a chosen length from a pseudorandom number generator to said public address and said sequence number.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

deterministically generating a unique cryptographic address comprising a sequence number; and

using a generated sequence number as a pointer to a deterministic path on a cryptographic chain when associated with an original master seed.