New pending patents applications are published by the USPTO on Thursdays. This week's Spotlight Applications continue the theme of blockchains (smart contracts, distributed ledgers) and rights management broadly construed. Assigned to Micro Technologies, the first application discloses techniques for remotely managing devices using blockchain and DICE-RIoT. Assigned to IBM, the first application discloses techniques for decentralized repository using encryption for non-repudiable activity and ownership.
20200313877, "Remotely managing devices using blockchain and DICE-RIoT," assigned to Micron Technology, Inc.
Abstract
Disclosed are techniques for remotely managing computing devices using blockchain and DICE-RIoT. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed comprising scanning a network to obtain a list of devices on the network; classifying the devices as either controlled or uncontrolled devices; establishing a secure channel with the controlled devices; issuing one or more control commands to the controlled devices over the secure channel, the one or more control commands included within a signed message, the signed message signed using a private key of the sender and verified using a public key of the receiver, the private key and public key generated during the establishing of the secure channel; receiving a response to the control commands; and logging the control commands and the response in a blockchain.
20200304298, "Decentralized repository using encryption for non-repudiable activity and ownership," assigned to IBM.
Abstract
An approach is provided for deterring a tampering of content. Content is signed by using an asymmetric key cryptography. The signed content is stored in a distributed ledger which is accessible to a plurality of subscribers of the distributed ledger. The signing of the content using the asymmetric key cryptography together with the storing of the signed content in the distributed ledger provide a non-repudiable identification of an owner of the content and a non-repudiable proof of an ownership of the content.
