Smart contracts, blockchains ( distributed ledgers) and rights management broadly construed are the themes of today's Spotlight Patents. Assigned to CapOne, the first patent addresses techniques for authorized data sharing using smart contracts. Assigned to PayPal, the second patent addresses techniques for verifying a user using proof-of-life for participation in a block chain of a distributed network.
11,196,561, "Authorized data sharing using smart contracts," assigned to Capital One.
Abstract
Systems as described herein may include authorizing the sharing of data and sharing data between a variety of systems. A request to share data may be provided to a first system. The system may create sharing session data using smart contracts executed by a distributed network system. Sharing session data may be stored using a smart contract. A second system may obtain the sharing session data and verify the sharing session based on the execution of the smart contract. On verification of the sharing session, a variety of data may be shared between the systems identified in the sharing session data. The sharing session data may be established between two systems and/or a number of systems. Smart contracts may provide a variety of functions for authorizing the sharing of data between systems. Additionally, encrypted data may be stored and/or obtained using a smart contract.
11,197,155, "Distributed ledger verification system using proof-of-life," assigned to PayPal.
Abstract
A system and method of verifying a user for participation in a block chain of a distributed network. The method includes receiving, by one or more validation devices of the distributed network, a request for participation in adding transaction records to the block chain, the request being received from a mobile communication device of the user and including behavioral data collected by the mobile communication device. In response to determining that the behavioral data satisfies a human characteristic threshold, determining that the behavioral data is not associated with another device of the distributed network. In response to both those conditions above, verifying the user and enabling the user to participate in the block chain distributed network by adding a block including transaction records to the block chain via the mobile communication device.