Tracking objects using a trusted ledger
View Patent ↗A blockchain function may include one or more of receiving a last observed location identifier for a product identified via a product tag associated with the product, determining whether the last observed location identifier was received from a trusted source device, and storing the last observed location identifier in a blockchain with a confirmed status responsive to determining the last observed location identifier was received from the trusted source device.
1. A method, comprising:
receiving, by a blockchain ledger, a last observed location identifier for a product identified via a tag associated with the product, the tag identifying that the last observed location identifier is from an untrusted source device;
storing, by the blockchain ledger, the last observed location identifier with a status indicator indicating that the last observed location identifier has a pending status indicating that the last observed location identifier is not committed to the blockchain ledger;
receiving, by the blockchain ledger, an indication of whether the untrusted source device is now a trusted source device;
changing, by the blockchain ledger, the status indicator to indicate that the last observed location identifier has a confirmed status based on the indication indicating that the untrusted source device is now a trusted source device; and
committing the confirmed last observed location identifier to the blockchain ledger.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the last observed location identifier further comprises:
receiving the last observed location identifier within a designated time frame window; and
identifying a location of the product during the designated time frame window.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
storing, by the blockchain ledger, the indication for verification.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication that the untrusted source device is now a trusted source device is created using an updated list of trusted source devices.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
removing, by the blockchain ledger, a last observed location identifier having a pending status, if the untrusted source device does not become the trusted source device.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
when the last observed location identifier is changed to a confirmed status, overwriting, by the blockchain ledger, a previously stored last observed location identifier with the last observed location identifier.
7. An apparatus for implementing a blockchain, the apparatus comprising:
a memory to store one or more instructions; and
a processor to execute the one or more instructions to cause a blockchain ledger of the blockchain to:
receive a last observed location identifier for a product identified via a tag associated with the product, the tag identifying that the last observed location identifier is from an untrusted source device,
store the last observed location identifier with a status indicator indicating that the last observed location identifier has a pending status indicating that the last observed location identifier is not committed to the blockchain,
receive an indication of whether the untrusted source device is now a trusted source device,
change the status indicator to indicate that the last observed location identifier has a confirmed status based on the indication indicating that the untrusted source device is now a trusted source device, and
commit the confirmed last observed location identifier to the blockchain.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein, when the processor is to receive the last observed location identifier, the processor further is to:
receive the last observed location identifier within a designated time frame window; and
identify a location of the product during the designated time frame window.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
store the indication for verification in the blockchain ledger.
10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the indication that the untrusted source device is now a trusted source device is created using an updated list of trusted source devices.
11. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
remove, from the blockchain ledger, a last observed location identifier having a pending status, discard the last observed location identifier if the untrusted source device does not become the trusted source device.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
when the last observed location identifier is changed to a confirmed status, overwrite, by the blockchain ledger, a previously stored last observed location identifier with the last observed location identifier.
13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store one or more instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform:
receiving, by a blockchain ledger, a last observed location identifier for a product identified via a tag associated with the product, the tag identifying that the last observed location identifier is from an untrusted source device;
storing, by the blockchain ledger, the last observed location identifier with a status indicator indicating that the last observed location identifier has a pending status indicating that the last observed location identifier is not committed to the blockchain ledger;
receiving, by the blockchain ledger, an indication of whether the untrusted source device is now a trusted source device;
changing, by the blockchain ledger, the status indicator to indicate that the last observed location identifier has a confirmed status based on the indication indicating that the untrusted source device is now a trusted source device; and
committing the confirmed last observed location identifier to the blockchain ledger.
14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the receiving the last observed location identifier further comprises:
receiving the last observed location identifier within a designated time frame window; and
identifying a location of the product during the designated time frame window.
15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the one or more instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform:
storing, by the blockchain ledger, the indication for verification.
16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the indication that the untrusted source device is now a trusted source device is created using an updated list of trusted source devices.
17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the one or more instructions are further configured to cause the processor to perform:
removing, by the blockchain, a last observed location identifier having a pending status, if the untrusted source device does not become the trusted source device; and
when the last observed location identifier is changed to a confirmed status, overwriting, by the blockchain, a previously stored last observed location identifier with the last observed location identifier.