New pending patent applications are published on Thursdays. Today's Spotlight Applications concern aspects of blockchain (distributed ledger, smart contracts) and digital rights management broadly construed. Assigned to Cambridge Blockchain, the first application discloses techniques for managing relationships among digital identities. Assigned to Robot Cache, the second application discloses techniques for media distribution employing contracts implemented in a distributed ledger.
20190222575, "Systems and methods for managing relationships among digital identities," assigned to Cambridge Blockchain, Inc.
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for performing access control for a first entity. The method comprises using a pointer associated with a second entity to access, from a distributed ledger system, at least one attestation for at least one attribute of the second entity, wherein the at least one attestation is movable between at least two states in the distributed ledger system, the at least two states comprising a VERIFIED state and allowing the second entity to access the first entity in response to determining that the at least one attestation is in the VERIFIED state, that the third entity is to be trusted for verifying the at least one attestation, that the cryptographic proof is a valid proof of the at least one privilege label, and that the one or more access rules are satisfied.
20190220836, "Methods and systems for media distribution employing contracts implemented in a distributed ledger," assigned to Robot Cache, Inc.
Abstract
Computer-implemented methods and systems are provided that distribute media content using a distributed ledger maintained by a plurality of nodes. Specifically, first data is stored in the distributed ledger. The first data represents a purchase contract that transfers a digital token associated with a particular digital media content item to a first user in return for payment by the first user. Second data is also stored in the distributed ledger. The second data represents a resale contract that transfers the digital token associated with the particular digital media content item as stored in the first data from the first user to a second user in return for payment by the second user. The digital token associated with the particular digital media content item as part of the first data can be used to grant only the first user permission to access the particular digital media content item unless such digital token is transferred from the first user to another user by data representing a resale contract that is stored in the digital ledger. The digital token associated with the particular digital media content item as part of the second data can be used to grant only the second user permission to access the particular digital media content item unless such digital token is transferred from the second user to another user by data representing a resale contract that is stored in the digital ledger.
