Product tracking and control system

Abstract

An apparatus for use in a product tracking system includes a storage device and a processor, the storage device storing software instructions that when executed by the processor configure the processor to: receive a signal representing data including event information detailing an event involving a manufactured product; load a portion of a block-chain ledger for tracking information associated with the product, the block-chain ledger including, within a block thereof and associated with the product, trigger-event data reflecting an event trigger and rules data reflecting a rule associated with the event trigger; and compare the event information with the trigger-event data, wherein the event trigger identifies a causal relationship between a possible event involving the product and an operation with respect to the product.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for use in a product tracking system, comprising:
 a storage device; and   a processor coupled to the storage device, the storage device storing software instructions for controlling the processor that when executed by the processor configure the processor to:
 receive a signal representing data including event information detailing an event involving a product; 
 load a portion of a block-chain ledger for tracking information associated with the product, the block-chain ledger including, within a block thereof and associated with the product, trigger-event data reflecting an event trigger and rules data reflecting a rule associated with the event trigger; and 
 compare the event information with the trigger-event data, wherein the event trigger identifies a causal relationship between a possible event involving the product and an operation with respect to the product. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 apply the rule reflected in the rules data to the event information when the event information corresponds to the event trigger reflected in the trigger-event data;   automatically select and perform the operation dependent on an outcome of the applying the rule to the event information; and   save information corresponding to the event information to the block-chain ledger.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the block of the block-chain ledger includes the trigger event data, the rules data, and a cryptographic hash of information reflecting a prior event associated with the product saved to the block-chain ledger. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the event trigger includes one or more of the shipment of the product, the delivery of the product, the receipt of the product, the sale of the product or the registration of the product. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rule defines sales, distribution and/or use restrictions on the product. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the operation is processing a financial transaction for the product or declining a financial transaction for the product. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the product is a connected product that can be remotely provisioned or remotely controlled, and wherein the operation includes provisioning the products, enabling the product or disabling the product. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rules data is encrypted within the block-chain ledger, wherein the processor is further configured to decrypt the encrypted rules data using a master cryptographic key. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 encrypt the rules data using a master cryptographic key; and   perform operations that cause the hashing of the encrypted rules data into a genesis block of the block-chain ledger.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 encrypt the trigger-event data using the master cryptographic key; and   perform operations that cause the hashing of the encrypted trigger-event data into the genesis block of the block-chain ledger.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 generate a private cryptographic key associated with a party having an interest in the product, the private cryptographic key being capable of decrypting the encrypted trigger-event data; and   provide the private cryptographic key to the party.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate at least a portion of the trigger-event data based on input received from the party. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 decrypt the trigger-event data and the rules data;   perform operations that modify at least a portion of the trigger-event data and the rules data;   encrypt the modified trigger-event data and modified rules data; and   perform operations that cause the hashing of the modified encrypted rules data and modified encrypted trigger-event data into a block of the block-chain ledger corresponding to a special transaction.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the event information corresponds to a request to regenerate a private block-chain key of a party having an interest in the product, the request being received from a device of the party;   the applied rule identifies an operation that regenerates the private block-chain key; and   the processor is further configured to perform the operation, the operation comprising:
 regenerating the private block-chain key; and 
 providing the regenerated private block-chain key to the party. 
   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for vetting transactions in real-time involving a product, comprising:
 a storage device; and   a processor coupled to the storage device, the storage device storing software instructions for controlling the processor that when executed by the processor configure the processor to:
 receive a signal representing data including event information detailing an event involving the manufactured product, wherein the manufactured product is a connected device and at least a part of the event information is obtained from the manufactured product when in a connected state; 
 load a portion of a block-chain ledger for tracking information associated with the product, the block-chain ledger including, within a block thereof and associated with the product, trigger-event data reflecting an event trigger and rules data reflecting a rule associated with the event trigger, the rule defining at least one of sales, distribution and use restrictions on the product; 
 apply the rule reflected in the rules data to the event information when the event information corresponds to the event trigger reflected in the trigger-event data; 
 automatically select and perform an operation dependent on an outcome of the applying the rule to the event information; and 
 save information corresponding to the event information to the block-chain ledger. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the event information includes a product identifier associated with the connected device. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the operation comprises processing a financial transaction associated with the manufactured product. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein processing the financial transaction includes approving the financial transaction, wherein the processor is configured to save the information corresponding to the event information to the block-chain ledger responsive to approving the financial transaction. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the operation comprises notifying a manufacturer of a transaction associated with the product violating the rule. 
     
     
         20 . A computer implemented method of tracking a manufactured product comprising the steps of:
 receiving with a processor a signal representing data including event information detailing an event involving the manufactured product;   loading with the processor a portion of a block-chain ledger for tracking information associated with the product, the block-chain ledger including, within a block thereof and associated with the product, trigger-event data reflecting an event trigger and rules data reflecting a rule associated with the event trigger; and   comparing the event information with the trigger-event data, wherein the event trigger identifies a causal relationship between a possible event involving the product and an operation with respect to the product.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the steps of:
 applying with the processor the rule reflected in the rules data to the event information when the event information corresponds to the event trigger reflected in the trigger-event data;   automatically selecting and performing with the processor the operation dependent on an outcome of the applying the rule to the event information; and   saving with the processor information corresponding to the event information to the block-chain ledger.