New pending patent applications are published on Thursdays. This week's Spotlight Applications continue the theme of blockchain (distributed ledger, smart contracts) and digital rights management broadly construed. Assigned to nChain Holdings (AG), the first application discloses techniques for implementing logic gate functionality using a blockchain. Assigned to Intensity Analytics Corporation, the second application discloses techniques for providing attribution to blockchain transactions.
20190116024, "Implementing logic gate functionality using a blockchain," assigned to nChain Holdings Limited (AG)
Abstract
The invention presents a solution in which blockchain Transactions are created to implement the functionality of a logic gate. The invention may be implemented on the Bitcoin platform or an alternative blockchain platform. The transaction includes a locking script which comprises instructions selected so as to implement the functionality of a logic gate such as OR, AND, XOR, NOT and so on. In some examples, the instructions may be provided in a hashed form. When the script is executed (because a second transaction is attempting to spend the output associated with the locking script) the inputs will be processed by the conditional instructions to provide an output of TRUE or FALSE. The second transaction is transmitted to the blockchain network for validation and, if determined to be valid, it will be written to the blockchain. Validation of the second transaction can be interpreted as a TRUE output. Thus, the locking script of the first transaction provides the functionality of the desired logic gate. The invention provides numerous advantages and can be used in a wide variety of applications, such as for the implementation of control systems and processes.
20190114632, "Method and system to provide attribution to blockchain transactions," assigned to Intensity Analytics Corporation.
Abstract
A method of validating and providing attribution to blockchain transactions, the method includes receiving a transaction request with a representation of user metrics from a user input device, requesting validation from an effort validation server by providing the representation of the metrics to the effort validation server, receiving a metric validation from the metric validation server, and adding the transaction to a blockchain of transactions, the transaction having been validated and including the metric with the transaction in the blockchain such that the transaction is validated and attributed.
