New pending patent applications are published by the USPTO on Thursdays. This today's Spotlight Applications continue the theme of blockchain (distributed ledger, smart contracts) and digital rights management broadly construed. Assigned to Intel, the first application discloses techniques for data confidentiality in distributed ledger. Assigned to PricewaterhouseCoopers, the second application discloses techniques for validation of distributed data storage systems.
20190132295, "System and apparatus for data confidentiality in distributed ledger," assigned to Intel.
Abstract
A system and apparatus for data confidentiality in a distributed ledger are disclosed. The system and apparatus preserve qualities of distributed ledgers, such as transparency, integrity, and redundancy, while also providing confidentiality, scalability, and security not previously available in distributed ledgers. The system includes a data confidentiality module that exploits a trusted execution environment for both transaction processing and key synchronization. The apparatus accessing the distributed ledger provides for new nodes joining the network, sending transactions to the ledger by existing nodes, securely processing the transaction using the trusted execution environment, securing transmission to the logic layer for application of business logic, reading and writing data to local storage, and reading encrypted transactions.
20190132350, "System and method for validation of distributed data storage systems," assigned to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
Abstract
Provided herein is a risk framework tool for a distributed ledger-based computing system (i.e., blockchain) that can present a common risk framework to a user that can then allow for the user to determine what risks are important for it to manage. The risk framework can then take those specified risks and convert them in to a plurality of tests that can be used to validate the organization's blockchain system. In one or more examples, the risk framework can provide a graphical user interface to user that allows them specify the risks they wish to manage within the blockchain computing system, and based on the user's inputs, can determine one or more continuous real-time validation tests to be performed on the blockchain computing system so as to characterize the risk specified by user using the risk framework.
