SYSTEM WITH PRIVACY PROTECTION

Technological Field:

The invention is related to a novel measurement system that enables data (statistics) and event recording in a safe and consistent manner. It comprises mechanisms for the privacy of the personal and corporation information during this process, by means of recording to a plurality of computers, which are organized as a semi-decentralized (partially-centralized in specific blockchain types) structure that utilizes the blockchain methodology. The system may run on or in collaboration with means of the Internet of things (loT) devices and/or other electronic or mechanical measurement devices such as sensors and detectors of all kinds. The abovesaid data are related to values belonging to all kinds of features, commodities or goods that can be measured and be charged, including but not limited to the amount, weight, flow rate, pressure, size, area, volume, amperage, etc. The system can be used with all kinds of goods or commodities whose storage, transportation and sale are possible, such as water utilities, trashes of any kind, natural/earth gas, electricity, fuels of any kind, and dried, fresh or processed agricultural products (spices, wheat, sugar, coffee and alike).

State of the Art: The blockchain method provides decentralized (or sometimes, distributed) technical solutions to finance, accounting and data storage problems of many kinds. The method can be applied to computers and all computerized devices that are able to establish an Internet or network connection. The blockchain is an abstract data structure that is also called the decentralized ledger; wherein unchangeable data records are kept. Any attempt to change a record can be detected. The ledger is aligned according to time and grows continuously, whenever new data is added. The blockchain-based systems allow parties (of a trade, an agreement or a transaction) that do not originally trust each other over the Internet or local private network environments to be able to trust each other and the corresponding transactions. The integrity (originality) of records in blockchain-based systems can be provided successfully along with availability and fault tolerance security services. Many sectors, countries, and institutions are beginning to integrate this technology into their online infrastructures and service systems due to their potential benefits and opportunities. The invention subject is related to a measurement and recordkeeping system wherein the blockchain method is used. The disadvantages of the measurement systems used today are mentioned below.

In energy, water, and similar utility infrastructures; there is a complex feedback system between the distribution companies and the consumers (or end-users). Accounting and billing systems are still operating in a manual manner in many areas in the world (such as a staff visiting the measurement meters and control thereof and notes down the used/consumed amounts on a notebook or in an electronic device). These processes are costly and generally require vast time and/or budget. Smart digital meters equipped with connection technologies such as GSM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, 3G, 4G, etc. can also transmit the stated measurement data to a central bookkeeping system; however, these current systems do not provide accounting services to end-users, besides measurement and transmission processes. These systems do not bring additional security to the security mechanisms of the legacy systems. The collected data are mostly kept at a single central system and processed there. The central data storage units do not embody the integrity and unchangeable features of blockchain technology as well as non-repudiation. Central systems are not strong enough against novel cyber attacks and service prevention attacks that are becoming more complex day by day. In addition, data collected from the system cannot be analyzed substantially in an effective manner.

Manuel reading processes used in the present state of the art require a substantial labor force; moreover, it leads to a high cost. In such kinds of reading processes, although some degree of automation is occasionally used via hand terminals, this is unable to go beyond reducing the problems. Even automated remote reading systems that are recently started to be used in some countries/sectors rely on centralized databases and do not provide the benefits of blockchain-based decentralized recording systems as proposed.

In the measurement systems used in the current technology, the following problems are encountered; high staff and time cost for reading meters, possibility of high mistake ratio based on human-factors during reading process, high cost due to reading and data transmission, difficulties in data transmission and data storing in a secure, proper, integrated manner, security and performance problems encountered during centralized data storage and processing, trusting only in infrastructure providers and their technologies in terms of communication security, danger of the attacks against the safety, confidentiality, and integrity of the transmitted and stored data and high costs regarding thereof, attacks within the institution/organization easily reach the target computer or server, and problems of integration to new technologies.

During the literature research made in the patent repositories, patent no

WO2017199053 (A1) is encountered. This document is related to a system that transmits the generated electricity by means of renewable energy sources to the final user in a transparent manner, uses the blockchain system during the transmission of electric data. It does not provide a measurement system.

During the literature research made in the patent repositories, patent no

W02018201147 (A2) is encountered, in which, the blockchain system used in Internet- connected devices having embedded systems is disclosed. In that document, no measurement system is provided. Here, a system in which some recent software updates disseminated to the devices by means of a blockchain method is disclosed.

Consequently, a measurement system in which personal data privacy is required. This invention exceeds the current solutions and the disadvantages are eliminated.

Brief Description of the Invention:

The invention is a measurement and recordkeeping system in which the current solutions are exceeded, the disadvantages are eliminated, and additional features are included.

The aim of the invention is to provide a novel measurement and recordkeeping system that enables data (statistics) and event recording in a safe and consistent manner. It comprises mechanisms for the privacy of the personal and corporation information during this process, by means of recording to a plurality of computers that are organized as a semi-decentralized (partially centralized in specific blockchain types) structure that utilizes the blockchain methodology. The system may run on or in collaboration with means of the Internet of things (loT) devices and/or other electronic or mechanical measurement devices such as sensors and detectors of all kinds. The abovesaid data are related to values belonging to all kinds of features, commodities or goods that can be measured and be charged, including but not limited to the amount, weight, flow rate, pressure, size, area, volume, amperage, etc. The system can be used with all kinds of goods or commodities whose storage, transportation and sale are possible, such as water utilities, trashes of any kind, natural/earth gas, electricity, fuels of any kind, and dried, fresh or processed agricultural products (spices, wheat, sugar, coffee and alike).

Another aim of the invention is to provide a novel measurement and recordkeeping system, in which the blockchain method, which is a safe, transparent, rapid, distributed data processing and data storage method, is used.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a novel measurement and recordkeeping system, wherein meter-reading processes are performed automatically by means of smart devices and networks or Internet connection without requiring human interference.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a novel data transmission and measurement system that eliminates the requirement of data collection in a centralized manner that eliminates consequences in terms of privacy of personal data, safety, confidentiality and consistency of data.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a novel measurement and recordkeeping system that guarantees security, unchangeability (integrity) and non-repudiation of the invoicing and data storage processes with the counter, detector, and sensor reading data transmitted in blockchain forms.

The invention is a system that implements the below features to realize all the aims given above. It is a measurement and recordkeeping system that enables data (statistics) and event recording in a safe and consistent manner by means of recording over a plurality of computers, the values belong to any kind of features which can be measured and charged, such as amount, weight, flow rate, pressure, size, area, volume, amperage, etc. for any goods/commodities whose storage, transportation and sales can be performed between the production/distribution companies and the subscribers/end-users such as water utilities, trashes of any kind, natural/earth gas, electricity, fuels of any kind, and dried, fresh or processed agricultural products (spices, wheat, sugar, coffee and alike), characterized in that, it comprises the following; loT device(s) that comprise(s) any kind of the network connected electronic and/or mechanic measurement devices that may be smart counters, detectors and sensors that provide data measurement and data transmission to the network, network connected smart counters, measurement computers or computerized devices, P2P network(s) which consist(s) of nodes (computers or computerized devices) that store the blockchain; forms and encrypt the blocks using the data coming from the aforementioned loT devices, and the cloud backup zone that enables storage of data of any kind, and enables sharing them with a plurality of computers, electronic devices and loT devices.

The process of the invention shall be as the following respectively; measurement will be made by means of the loT devices (smart counters, detectors, and sensors). loT devices will send their own measurements or usage data to the relevant node in the network. The recorded measurement and usage data will be confirmed by the nodes defined in the system. The node that is selected or predetermined by means of the used consensus; shall convert the predetermined number of transactions (measurement information) into the block form. The required ledger update shall be performed in the blockchain structure according to the selected blockchain technology (which includes but not limited to Hyperledger Fabric, Hyperledger Sawtooth, Ethereum, NEO, NXT, Blockstack, R3 Corda). The subscribers/consumers and the distribution/production companies can reach the authorized transaction data and records (for example invoice and usage information) by means of applications (web sites, web portals or smartphone applications). The system would provide the required query mechanisms.

Within the scope of the system subject to the invention, as the data encryption algorithm, any kind of symmetrical (including but not limited to AES: Advanced encryption standard, DES: Data encryption standard, 3DES, Blowfish), asymmetrical (including but not limited to RSA: Rivest-Shamir-Adleman, DHM: Diffie-Hellman-Merkle, ECC: Elliptic curve cryptography, El Gamal), distributed and post-quantum encryption algorithms can be used. In case quantum computers would be used widely in the future, it is possible that the asymmetrical encryption methods that are considered sufficient at the date of this document would be weak at that time.

As the main storage areas of the private data, electronic or electromechanical computerized devices that act as smart meters/sensors and counters are considered. In case of demand concerning the realization of determined approval transactions by the producer/distributor company is received; the private data can be shared temporarily on the smart meter or another proxy/service provider machine in order to perform the required transaction(es). In order to establish privacy for the private data; cryptographic security protocols that provide privacy by means of Zero-Knowledge Proof or other methods will be operated thereof.

In the invention, the identification process of the subscriber who requires benefiting a service from the distributor/producer is realized as the following. The key to be used for encrypting the data between the loT device(s) of the new subscriber (smart counter/sensor/detector device or a computerized measurement device that embodies thereof) and the distributor/producer, shall be created firstly in the loT device(s) of the user. In order to transmit this key to the distributor/producer company, asymmetrical encryption-based key distribution or post-quantum key distribution techniques can be used. In case asymmetrical based encryption is used; the key created by the subscriber/consumer will be encrypted with the public key of the distributor and its encrypted form will be added to the blockchain. The distributer/producer shall obtain the common key to be used in the symmetrical encryption with the subscriber/consumer during the period of subscription by means of decrypting this encrypted data with a specific key.

In the invention, private information shall be kept in encrypted form in the loT device(s) of the user. The data in this device(s) can be backed-up in an external device of the user. In case the data in the device is backed-up on a cloud-based storage, taking additional measures is foreseen. The system can be made secure against security violations by means of applying cryptographic splitting techniques that comprise encryption of the data again at different locations by splitting the encrypted data. In case attackers can decrypt a part of the data, they can still not be able to obtain the data without decrypting all parts. Description of the Figures:

The invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings; thus, the features of the invention will be clearly understood. However, the aim of this is not limiting the invention with particular arrangements. On the contrary, it is aimed to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that would include the field of the invention described in the attached claims. It is to be understood that the details shown are illustrated for the sake of only clarifying the preferred arrangements of the present invention and forming the methods, and also for providing the most useful and apparent description of the rules of the invention and conceptual features. In these drawings;

Figure - 1 is a schematic view of the inventive measurement/recordkeeping system.

The figures clarifying this invention are enumerated as shown in the attached drawing and they are given with their names hereinbelow. Description of the References:

1 . Measurement system

10. loT device

20. Network

30. Blockchain ledger

40. Cloud backup zone

A. Subscriber/Consumer

D. Distribution/Production Entity Description of the Invention:

In this detailed description, the inventive measurement and recordkeeping system (1) is only described for clarifying the subject matter in a non-limiting manner. In the description, a measurement and recordkeeping system (1) that enables data (statistics) and event recording in a safe and consistent manner, by means of recording over a plurality of computers, with a decentralized (partially centralized in specific blockchain structures) structure together with the blockchain method (30) by means of the Internet of things (loT) devices and electronic or mechanical measurement devices used with these devices such as sensors, counters, and detectors, etc., the values belong to any kind of features which can be measured and charged such as amount, weight, flow rate, pressure, size, area, volume, amperage, etc. for any goods/commodities, whose storage, transportation and sales are performed such as water utilities, trashes of any kind, natural/earth gas, electricity, fuels of any kind, and dried, fresh or processed agricultural products (spices, wheat, sugar, coffee and alike), is disclosed.

In Figure 1 , the schematic view of the inventive measurement and recordkeeping system (1) is given. According to the schematic view, the measurement system (1) consists of subscribers (A), distribution/production companies (D), loT devices (10), a computer network (20), a blockchain ledger (30) maintained over the network (20) and a cloud backup zone (40). Distribution/production companies (D) are private or legal entities that produce or distribute energy, water, products and/or other measurable utility services or goods to the subscribers (A). Subscribers (A) are the users or consumers who purchase and consume energy and/or other services/goods from the distributors/producers (D). The network (20) consists of nodes (computers and/or computerized devices) connected to a P2P network. Nodes are the devices that store data of the blockchain ledger (30). Meters, counters, detectors, and sensors or computerized devices including these counter and sensors, and other computers within the network of the entities can be included in the network (20) as nodes. Blockchain ledger (30) shall store operational record data of this data structure in all (or a bunch of) nodes. Data are added to the blockchain ledger (30) and stored therein after an appropriate encoding. The cloud backup zone (40) is the area that is used for the subscriber (A) data backup. loT devices (10) comprise network (20) connected electronic measurement devices including smart counters, detectors, and sensors, network-connected smart meters, all computers or computerized devices that realize means of measurement.

In the inventive measurement system (1), first of all, measurement (smart counter, detector, and sensors) is made by means of loT devices (10). loT devices (10) send their measurement or usage data to the relevant node in the network (20) (In case the measurement device is a computer node, data can be processed on the same device). Measurement and usage data that are recorded are confirmed by means of the nodes in the network (20). The node that is selected by the used consensus protocol or determined previously will convert the predetermined number of transactions (measurement info) into the block form. In accordance with the structure of the blockchain (30), since it is required to have the most updated form of the blockchain ledger (30) in all nodes; according to the selected blockchain technology (Hyperledger Fabric, Ethereum, neo, etc.), required record book update in the blockchain structure (30) will be made periodically. Users can be able to reach their authorized processed data and records (for example invoice and usage information) by means of the applications (end-user web sites/portals or smartphone applications). The system shall provide the required query mechanisms. The cloud (40) will be used for the backing-up of the personal data in an encrypted manner.

At the beginning of the service of a new subscriber (A) who requires receiving service from a distributor/provider (D); the key to be used between two parties for encryption is created in the smart meter (10) of the subscriber (A). This key is encrypted by means of the public key of the distributer (A) in case asymmetrical encryption is used as the key distribution method and after this transaction is approved, it is added to the blockchain (30). The distributor/provider (D) receives the temporary key by means of decryption with a specific key. This process is the starting transaction of each new subscription and also it will be used while confirming the personal information of the existing subscribers (A) thereof.

During the new subscription phase; the identity number (MeterlD) of the loT device (10), the identity number (Distributor! D) of the service provider/distributor (D) and the shared key are used. After the approval of the Distributor (D) is received, the service is initiated. Data of the Subscriber (A) is kept within the loT device (10) in an encrypted form. When the personal data of the Subscriber (A) is required to be confirmed by the Distributor (D); private information itself is not shared with the distributor in any way but the required verification/authorization process is performed by means of smart contracts on the loT device (10) or another proxy/service provider machine. Deception of the system by the subscriber or the distributer is prevented by means of the used software and protocols. The record of this sharing process made by means of smart contracts is kept within a block in the blockchain ledger. The loT device (10) that is set up (smart counter or smart sensor assembly) starts to operate when the subscriber/user/consumer (A) and the producer/provider/distributor (D) signs a contract of service and the contract is activated thereafter. In general terms, the smart sensor assembly or smart counter (according to the field of use) which is an loT device (10) (or embedded in an loT device) instantly or periodically measures the consumption/production or stock amount of the target service. Actually, the smart counter, which is a smart sensor assembly, (again according to the field of use) instantly measures the electric energy or natural gas or water or solid/fluid waste. The measurement data are sent to the node device in a P2P network (20) determined by means of the provider/distributor (D). The data transmission protocol is defined by means of smart contracts. The node devices confirm the data and transaction records received from the deployed loT devices (10) and subsequently combines thereof in order to create a block. Validation can include the verification process applied by means of comparing the smart counter measurements with the own records of the company. A new data block (consisting of measured amounts, recorded events and/or identity information) is formed after a predetermined number of transactions. It is validated by means of a node device in the network (20) and is added into the blockchain (30) thereafter. Blockchain (30) data are kept in all or in selected nodes, and in case of an attack, it can be synchronized with the other nodes. Thus, data integrity can be protected well.

The subscriber/consumer (A) and the distributor/producer (D) can query the up-to-date consumption data according to the block writing frequency and can monitor the current consumption data online. The consumption of the energy (sources), water and/or other relevant services/goods can be tracked by means of using these data within predetermined time periods and the energy requirement forecasts of the regions can be estimated thereof. This information can be used in smart network systems that can be able to increase efficiency and productivity. loT devices (10) or nodes enable technicians to detect possible problems in the energy and/or utility infrastructures and to provide solutions on time. With the help of this kind of system, the sustainability of the energy and/or utility supplies can be promised. The problems in the infrastructure are kept as a transaction record on the blockchain ledger (30).

When the subscriber/consumer (A) requires to change the distributor/provider entity (D) (in case of a competitive market), it is possible to revoke the permissions given to the previous distributor (D) back and to use the right of oblivion. For such a change, it is not required to change the relevant counter/meter/sensor parts nor the loT device itself. The subscriber (A) can prevent the previous distributer’s (D) authorization regarding the private information by means of using the smart contracts. This process can also be recorded within the blockchain ledger (30) as a transaction record and the subscription process with the new distributor company (D) can be initiated. These features are to be supported with relevant software.