New pending patent applications are published on Thursdays by the USPTO. Today's Spotlight Applications continue the themes of blockchain (distributed ledger, smart contracts) and digital rights management broadly construed. Assigned to Oracle, the first application discloses techniques for digital asset traceability and assurance using a distributed ledger. Assigned to StartEngine Crowdfunding, the second application discloses techniques for peer-to-peer trading with blockchain technology.
20190065709, "Digital asset traceability and assurance using a distributed ledger," assigned to Oracle.
Abstract
Various embodiments provide an apparatus, method, system, and/or instructions by which source code can be linked to a compiled binary, guaranteeing the origin of the binary and ensuring traceability of the binary file back to the source code that originated it. An example method includes determining a request to register a digital asset; computing a first hash of an initial source file of the digital asset; ascertaining a version of the initial source file; electing one or more nodes of a blockchain to commit the first hash to the blockchain in association with a version of the digital asset corresponding to the version of the initial source file; converting the source file into a binary file, resulting in a binary version of the digital asset; computing a second hash of the binary file; and committing the second hash to the blockchain in association with the version of the digital asset.
20190066206, "Peer-to-peer trading with blockchain technology," assigned to StartEngine Crowdfunding, Inc.
Abstract
Introduced here are computer programs and associated computer-implemented techniques for facilitating complex transactions involving securities through the use of blockchain technology. A network-accessible management platform (also referred to as an "alternative trading system" or "ATS") may be responsible for using a blockchain to efficiently and securely manage trades of securities. The network-accessible management platform can be communicatively coupled to a transfer agent module responsible managing the ownership of securities purchased by investors and/or a trading module responsible for receiving input indicative of requested purchases/sales of securities. The network-accessible management platform can facilitate transfers of securities from one investor to another investor without the fear of data loss or the high costs that are ordinarily imposed on securities transfers.