Blockchains (smart contracts, distributed ledgers) and rights management broadly construed are the themes of today's Spotlight Patents. Assigned to Advanced New Technologies, the first patent concerns techniques for blockchain-based cross-chain data access. Assigned to nChain the second patent addresses techniques for an operating system for blockchain IoT devices.
11,126,683, "Blockchain-based cross-chain data access method and apparatus," assigned to Advanced New Technologies Co., Ltd.
(KY).Abstract
One or more implementations of the present specification relate to blockchain-based cross-chain data access methods and apparatuses, and electronic devices. An access request that is specific to target data and that is sent by a node device is obtained. The target data is stored in a target blockchain of a multi-chain system that comprises a plurality of blockchains. The access request comprises an access path of the target data. The target blockchain that the target data is located in is determined based on the access path of the target data. A corresponding data access driver configured for the target blockchain is determined based on the access path of the target data. The data access driver is invoked to parse the access request and to access the target data.
11,128,607, "Operating system for blockchain IoT devices," assigned to nChain Licensing (CH).
Abstract
The invention provides a generic operating system for coordinating, controlling and/or influencing the activities of a device. The invention is implemented using a blockchain platform with which the operating system is arranged to interact. The blockchain may be the Bitcoin blockchain. In a preferred embodiment, the device is an Internet of Things (IOT) device. The invention provides a computer-implemented control system and corresponding method for controlling a device, the system comprising a device configured for wireless communication with a network and having an IP address and a public-private key cryptographic key pair associated with the device; a software-implemented control component arranged to monitor the state of a blockchain network and/or transmit blockchain Transactions to the blockchain network; and a set of instructions arranged for execution by the control component to control the functionality of the device. The control component is arranged to access the set of instructions from a stored location which is separate to the device. The instructions may be stored in a Distributed Hash Table (DHT) and accessed for download and installation by the control component from the DHT as and when needed. The location of the DHT and/or instructions may be indicated or provided using metadata provided within a blockchain transaction. The set of instructions may be accessed by the control component using a look-up key which is related to a cryptographic key pair. The control component is provided on or in the device, or in other embodiments can be provided in an off-device location and arranged for wireless communication with the device.
