New pending patent applications are published on Thursdays by the USPTO. Today's Spotlight Applications concern aspects of blockchain (distributed ledger, smart contracts) and digital rights management broadly construed. Assigned to Alibaba, the first application discloses techniques for asymmetric key management in consortium blockchain networks. Assigned to Denso (JP), the second application discloses techniques for authenticating and authorizing devices.
20190253245, "Asymmetric key management in consortium blockchain networks," assigned to Alibaba Group Holding LLC.
Abstract
Implementations of the present specification provide for management of service keys for consortium blockchain networks within a blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS) platform. Implementations include actions of receiving a request for a service key from a participant in a consortium blockchain network provisioned within the BaaS platform, determining that the participant is authorized for the service key based on a service authorization table that records participant privileges within the consortium blockchain network, providing a key package including an encrypted private key of the service key, and a public key of the service key, and sending the key package to the participant, the participant decrypting the private key of the service key using a public key associated with the participant.
20190253262, "System and method for authenticating and authorizing devices," assigned to Denso Corporation (JP)
Abstract
A system and method for a distributed security model that may be used to achieve one or more of the following: authenticate system components; securely transport messages between system components; establish a secure communications channel over a constrained link; authenticate message content; authorize actions; and distribute authorizations and configuration data amongst users' system components in a device-as-a-key system.
