Walmart Files Patents for Blockchain Data Storage

The initial patent filed describes the proposed vendor payment system. It is a network that could automatically do transactions on a customer's behalf. Payments would then be received by one or more vendors depending on the services provided to the customer and exactly which vendors provided those services, the patent said. 

"In one aspect, provided is a vendor payment sharing system, [which would] automatically process payment for a total amount due for the products and services related to obtaining and delivering the products; automatically dividing the payment between parties that provided services related to obtaining and delivering the products; and encrypt the payment and the division of the payment with a blockchain," the application noted. 

A secondary application talked about an emphasis on digital shopping and using blockchain to encrypt payment information to also keep it out of the hands of third-party vendors. 

The secondary filing said "the vendor payment sharing system also includes an authentication system for valuable digitized items ... In an exemplary embodiment, the authentication system utilizes one or more aspects of conventional [blockchain systems]."

This is far from the only blockchain-related patents filed by Walmart in recent months. In early March, the company filed a patent for a smart package that would leverage blockchain to improve tracking capabilities. 

"These online customers many times seek to purchase items that may require a controlled environment and further seek to have greater security in the shipping packaging that the items are shipped in." Walmart said in the filing.

In 2017, the ubiquitous global retailer partnered with Kroger, Nestle, and other industry firms to improve food traceability. The initiative was to use blockchain in order to increase the transparency and authenticity about where food sold in these respective stores really comes from. 

There was also a similar filing for using blockchain to track unmanned drones. That application went live on the USPTO website last May.

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"In some embodiments, the delivery box may also include a delivery encryption system comprising a blockchain for package tracking and authentication. Package tracking by blockchain may include elements including but not limited to location, supply chain transition, authentication of the courier and customer, ambient temperature of the container, temperature of the product if available, acceptable thresholds for ambient temperature of the product, package contents placed in the container system (products & goods), or a combination thereof." Walmart said in the application.

The company has yet to make a statement regarding how or when it plans on using this technology, or even if there's an opt-out option for its customers.