IP Library › Granted Patent US 12688501
Granted Patent B2
US 12688501 · App. 18/069,962 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Circular blockchains

Inventors: Douglas Max Grover (Rigby, ID); Michael F. Angelo (Houston, TX)
Assignee: Micro Focus LLC
G06Q20/3825G06Q20/3827
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12688501
App. No.
18/069,962
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A plurality of circular blockchains are created. The plurality of circular blockchains may comprise different structures. For example, the plurality of circular blockchains may include: a single genesis block where a last block in each of the plurality of circular blockchain links back to the single genesis block, a plurality of genesis blocks where a last block in each of the plurality of circular blockchain links back to individual ones of the plurality of genesis blocks, and a genesis block and one or more connection blocks that form the plurality of circular blockchains.

Claims (64)

1 . A system comprising:

a microprocessor; and

a computer readable medium, coupled with the microprocessor and comprising microprocessor readable and executable instructions that, when executed by the microprocessor, cause the microprocessor to:

create, using a hashing algorithm, a plurality of circular blockchains, each circular blockchain including a sequence of transaction blocks;

generate one of:

a single genesis block that indicates one or more types of transaction blocks included in each of the plurality of circular blockchains, wherein a last block of each circular blockchain links back to the single genesis block;

a plurality of genesis blocks, each genesis block corresponding to one of the plurality of circular blockchains and specifying one or more types of transaction blocks included in that corresponding circular blockchain, wherein the last block of each circular blockchain links back to its corresponding genesis block; and

a genesis block that indicates the one or more types of transaction blocks in each of the plurality of circular blockchains and one or more connection blocks that interconnect the plurality of circular blockchains;

store, in each genesis block, a hash of an associated blockchain and a hash of a last transaction block of that circular blockchain;

store, in the single genesis block or in each of the plurality of genesis blocks, additional information associated with a locked one of the plurality of circular blockchains, the additional information comprising at least one of:

date and time information indicating when the one of the plurality of circular blockchains was locked;

information identifying one or more specific transaction blocks in the locked circular blockchain;

information specifying types of transaction blocks in the locked circular blockchain;

an index value identifying the locked circular blockchain; and

a number or type of transaction blocks in an overall blockchain structure that includes the plurality of circular blockchains; and

perform a search operation that uses the stored additional information in the single genesis block or in the plurality of genesis blocks to identify a specific transaction block within the overall blockchain structure without sequentially searching all of the transaction blocks in the overall blockchain structure.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of circular blockchains comprise the single genesis block.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the single genesis block comprises a plurality of genesis block links that link the plurality of circular blockchains together.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the single genesis block comprises a genesis block locking link that links back to a first blockchain of the plurality of circular blockchains from a last blockchain of the plurality of circular blockchains and wherein the genesis block locking link locks the overall blockchain structure.

5 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the single genesis block comprises one or more of: a hash of each circular blockchain, a hash of a last transaction block of each circular blockchain, and a digital signature.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of circular blockchains comprise the plurality of genesis blocks.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein each genesis block comprises a digital signature.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of circular blockchains comprises at least one of: a locked circular blockchain and an active circular blockchain, and a non-circular blockchain and a circular blockchain.

9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of genesis blocks are linked together to form a genesis blockchain.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of genesis blocks are locked with a genesis blockchain locking link.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of circular blockchains comprise the genesis block and the one or more connection blocks.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the genesis block and the one or more connection blocks comprises a digital signature.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein a last one of the plurality of circular blockchains does not have a connection block linking a next circular blockchain.

14 . A method, comprising:

creating, by a microprocessor, using a hashing algorithm, a plurality of circular blockchains, each circular blockchain including a sequence of transaction blocks;

generating, by the microprocessor, one of:

a single genesis block that indicates one or more types of transaction blocks included in each of the plurality of circular blockchains, wherein a last block of each circular blockchain links back to the single genesis block;

a plurality of genesis blocks, each genesis block corresponding to one of the plurality of circular blockchains and specifying one or more types of transaction blocks included in that corresponding circular blockchain, wherein the last block of each circular blockchain link back to its corresponding genesis block; and

a genesis block that indicates the one or more types of transaction blocks in each of the plurality of circular blockchains and one or more connection blocks that interconnect the plurality of circular blockchains;

storing, by the microprocessor, in each genesis block, a hash of an associated blockchain and a hash of a last transaction block of that circular blockchain;

storing, by the microprocessor, in the single genesis block or in each of the plurality of genesis blocks, additional information associated with a locked one of the plurality of circular blockchains, the additional information comprising at least one of:

date and time information indicating when the one of the plurality of circular blockchains was locked;

information identifying one or more specific transaction blocks in the locked circular blockchain;

information specifying types of transaction blocks in the locked circular blockchain;

an index value identifying the locked circular blockchain; and

a number or type of transaction blocks in an overall blockchain structure that includes the plurality of circular blockchains; and

performing, by the microprocessor, a search operation that uses the stored additional information in the single genesis block or in the plurality of genesis blocks to identify a specific transaction block within the overall blockchain structure without sequentially searching all of the transaction blocks in the overall blockchain structure.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of circular blockchains comprise the single genesis block.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the single genesis block comprises a plurality of genesis block links that link the plurality of circular blockchains together.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of circular blockchains comprise the plurality of genesis blocks.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of genesis blocks are linked together to form a genesis blockchain.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of circular blockchains comprise the genesis block and the one or more connection blocks.

20 . A system comprising:

a microprocessor; and

a computer readable medium, coupled with the microprocessor and comprising microprocessor readable and executable instructions that, when executed by the microprocessor, cause the microprocessor to:

create, using a hashing algorithm, a plurality of non-circular blockchains, each non-circular blockchains including a sequence of transactions blocks, wherein the plurality of non-circular blockchains each comprise an individual genesis block that indicates one or more types of transaction blocks in an associated non-circular blockchain, wherein the individual genesis block for each of the plurality of non-circular blockchains are linked together to form a genesis blockchain, and wherein each genesis block includes a hash of an associated blockchain and a hash of a last transaction block of the associated blockchain;

create, using a hashing algorithm, a plurality of circular blockchains, each circular blockchain including a sequence of transaction blocks;

generate one of:

a single genesis block that indicates one or more types of transaction blocks included in each of the plurality of circular blockchains, wherein a last block of each circular blockchain links back to the single genesis block;

a plurality of genesis blocks, each genesis block corresponding to one of the plurality of circular blockchains and specifying one or more types of transaction blocks included in that corresponding circular blockchain, wherein the last block of each circular blockchain links back to its corresponding genesis block; and

a genesis block that indicates the one or more types of transaction blocks in each of the plurality of circular blockchains and one or more connection blocks that interconnect the plurality of circular blockchains;

store, in each genesis block, a hash of an associated blockchain and a hash of a last transaction block of that circular blockchain;

store, in the single genesis block or in each of the plurality of genesis blocks, additional information associated with a locked one of the plurality of circular blockchains, the additional information comprising at least one of:

date and time information indicating when the one of the plurality of circular blockchains was locked;

information identifying one or more specific transaction blocks in the locked circular blockchain;

information specifying types of transaction blocks in the locked circular blockchain;

an index value identifying the locked circular blockchain; and

a number or type of transaction blocks in an overall blockchain structure that includes the plurality of circular blockchains; and

perform a search operation that uses the stored additional information in the single genesis block or in the plurality of genesis blocks to identify a specific transaction block within the overall blockchain structure without sequentially searching all of the transaction blocks in the overall blockchain structure.