Systems and methods for securing and disseminating time sensitive information using a blockchain
An information computer system is provided for securely releasing time-sensitive information to recipients via a blockchain. A submitter submits a document to the system and a blockchain transaction is generated and submitted to the blockchain based on the document (e.g., the document is included as part of the blockchain transaction). An editor may edit the document and an approver may approve the document for release to the recipients. Each modification and/or approval of the document is recorded as a separate transaction on the blockchain where each of the submitter, editor, approver, and recipients interact with the blockchain with corresponding unique digital identifiers—such as private keys.
1 . A computer system for securely releasing time-sensitive digital content, the computer system comprising:
non-transitory computer readable storage configured to store cryptographic data that includes at least first cryptographic data associated with a digital content submitter and second cryptographic data associated with a digital content approver that approves of release of digital content; and
at least one hardware processor coupled to a memory, the at least one hardware processor configured to perform operations comprising:
deploying a programmatic structure to a blockchain, the programmatic structure including multiple programmatic approval conditions that are enforceable for release of the digital content to recipients; the multiple programmatic approval conditions including at least one timer condition and at least one approver condition, the blockchain maintained by to one or more computing nodes of a distributed blockchain computing system;
processing provided digital content for secure release to intended recipients, the provided digital content being provided in association with the digital content submitter;
generating a first blockchain transaction that is based on: 1) provided digital content, 2) the first cryptographic data that is associated with the digital content submitter; and 3) one or more pieces of meta-data in association with the provided digital content and/or release of digital content to be securely released;
submitting the generated first blockchain transaction as an input to the programmatic structure that has been added to the blockchain;
generating a second blockchain transaction that is based on: 1) the second cryptographic data that is associated with the digital content approver; and 2) the digital content to be securely released that is at least based on the provided digital content;
submitting the generated second blockchain transaction as an input to the programmatic structure that has been added to the blockchain; and
causing the digital content to be released based on all of the multiple programmatic approval conditions, including the at least one timer condition and the at least one approver condition, of the programmatic structure of the blockchain being satisfied.
2 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the meta-data includes multi-signature requirements, a schedule for when the digital content is to be released, or an indication of the recipients who are to receive the digital content upon release.
3 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the digital content to be released and the provided digital content are the same.
4 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the digital content to be released is modified from the provided digital content being provided in association with the digital content submitter.
5 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the meta-data includes identification of a digital content editor that is associated with third cryptographic data.
6 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the second blockchain transaction is cryptographically linked to the first blockchain transaction.
7 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving data that is based on edits made for the digital content to be released;
generating a third blockchain transaction based on the edits and/or an edited version of the digital content; and
submitting the third blockchain transaction to one or more computing nodes of the distributed blockchain computing system for incorporation into the blockchain.
8 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
communicating, based on release of the digital content, the digital content to a web server to be accessed by at least some of the recipients.
9 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
processing a reject command that has been received in connection with the digital content approver.
10 . The computer system of claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise:
based on the rejection command, generating and submitting a further blockchain transaction to one or more computing nodes of the distributed blockchain computing system, wherein the further blockchain transaction is to a blockchain address that is not associated with any of the recipients.
11 . The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the blockchain address is for a trash blockchain address that is not associated with any submitter, editor, approver, or any the recipients.
12 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one approver condition includes a first approver condition that is associated with the digital content approver and a second approver condition that is associated with another digital content approver that is linked third cryptographic data, wherein both the first approver condition and second approver conditions must be satisfied for release of the digital content.
13 . A method of securely releasing time-sensitive digital content via a blockchain, the method comprising:
storing cryptographic data that includes at least first cryptographic data associated with a digital content submitter and second cryptographic data associated with a digital content approver that approves of release of digital content;
deploying a programmatic structure to a blockchain, the programmatic structure including multiple programmatic approval conditions that are enforceable for release of the digital content to recipients; the multiple programmatic approval conditions including at least one timer condition and at least one approver condition, the blockchain maintained by to one or more computing nodes of a distributed blockchain computing system;
processing provided digital content for secure release to intended recipients, the provided digital content being provided in association with the digital content submitter;
generating a first blockchain transaction that is based on: 1) provided digital content, 2) the first cryptographic data that is associated with the digital content submitter; and 3) one or more pieces of meta-data in association with the provided digital content and/or digital content to be securely released;
submitting the generated first blockchain transaction as an input to the programmatic structure that has been added to the blockchain;
generating a second blockchain transaction that is based on: 1) the second cryptographic data that is associated with the digital content approver; and 2) the digital content to be securely released that is at least based on the provided digital content;
submitting the generated second blockchain transaction as an input to the programmatic structure that has been added to the blockchain; and
causing the digital content to be released based on all of the multiple programmatic approval conditions, including the at least one timer condition and the at least one approver condition, of the programmatic structure of the blockchain being satisfied.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the meta-data includes at least one of multi-signature requirements, a schedule for when the digital content is to be released, an indication of the recipients who are to receive the digital content upon release, and identification of a digital content editor that is associated with third cryptographic data.
15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
receiving data that is based on edits made for the digital content to be released;
generating a third blockchain transaction based on the edits and/or an edited version of the digital content; and
submitting the third blockchain transaction to one or more computing nodes of the distributed blockchain computing system for incorporation into the blockchain.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the second blockchain transaction is cryptographically linked to the first blockchain transaction.
17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
processing a reject command that has been received in connection with the digital content approver.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising
based on the rejection command, generating and submitting a further blockchain transaction to one or more computing nodes of the distributed blockchain computing system, wherein the further blockchain transaction is to a blockchain address that is not associated with any of the recipients for digital content.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the blockchain address is for a trash blockchain address that is not associated with any submitter, editor, approver, or any the recipients.
20 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer program for use with a computer system, the computer program causing the computer system to perform operations comprising:
storing cryptographic data that includes at least first cryptographic data associated with a digital content submitter and second cryptographic data associated with a digital content approver that approves of release of digital content;
deploying a programmatic structure to a blockchain, the programmatic structure including multiple programmatic approval conditions that are enforceable for release of the digital content to recipients; the multiple programmatic approval conditions including at least one timer condition and at least one approver condition, the blockchain maintained by to one or more computing nodes of a distributed blockchain computing system;
processing provided digital content for secure release to intended recipients, the provided digital content being provided in association with the digital content submitter;
generating a first blockchain transaction that is based on: 1) provided digital content, 2) the first cryptographic data that is associated with the digital content submitter; and 3) one or more pieces of meta-data in association with the provided digital content and/or release of digital content to be securely released;
submitting the generated first blockchain transaction as an input to the programmatic structure that has been added to the blockchain;
generating a second blockchain transaction that is based on: 1) the second cryptographic data that is associated with the digital content approver; and 2) the digital content to be securely released that is at least based on the provided digital content;
submitting the generated second blockchain transaction as an input to the programmatic structure that has been added to the blockchain; and
causing the digital content to be released based on all of the multiple programmatic approval conditions, including the at least one timer condition and the at least one approver condition, of the programmatic structure of the blockchain being satisfied.