System and method for implementing a computer network
A method for implementing a private computer network over which digital assets can be securely managed, the method comprising: implementing an autonomous network agent on each of a plurality of network devices that are communicable over a digital communications medium, the autonomous network agent being operable to execute a network program that is embodied as program code in a blockchain that is stored and synchronised by the respective network devices, the network program defining permissible network defined digital asset types and corresponding functions.
1. A method for implementing a computer network, comprising:
storing a network program as program code in a root block of a blockchain, the network program defining:
(a) one or more rules for creating a structured network of network devices, each network device implementing an autonomous network agent for executing the network program;
(b) one or more permissible digital asset types; and
(c) one or more functions that can be performed on the permissible digital asset types; and
executing the network program by the autonomous network agent on each network device to implement the computer network; and
allowing an authorised user to call a function for modifying the network program via any one of the network devices and wherein, responsive to a consensus being reached among the network devices, the modification is applied and an updated version of the network program is stored by the blockchain for synchronisation among the network devices.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein configuring the network comprises initially executing the network program by an authorised one of the network devices, thereby causing the blockchain to be distributed to each of the other network devices.
3. A method in accordance with claim 2 , wherein, once a network device has received the blockchain, the corresponding autonomous agent structures the network device within the network in accordance with the one or more rules.
4. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the blockchain is implemented by the network devices to validate device and/or user-initiated requests placed over the network and received by the corresponding network agent.
5. A method in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the network program defines one or more permissions that need to be satisfied as part of the validation.
6. A method in accordance with claim 4 , wherein, in response to a network request being validated, the method further comprising updating the network.
7. A method in accordance with claim 6 , wherein updating the network comprises adding a new block to the blockchain that is representative of at least one request that has been validated.
8. A system for implementing a private computer network over which digital assets can be securely managed, the system comprising:
a plurality of network devices that are communicable over a digital communications medium, each of the network devices implementing an autonomous network agent that is operable to execute a network program that is embodied as program code in a blockchain that is stored and synchronised by the respective network devices for implementing the network, and wherein an initial version of the network program is stored in a root block of the blockchain and defines: (a) one or more rules for creating a structured network of the network devices; (b) one or more permissible digital asset types; and (c) one or more functions that can be performed on the permissible digital asset types, wherein the autonomous network agent is configured to allow an authorised user to call a function for modifying the network program via any one of the network devices and wherein, responsive to a consensus being reached among the autonomous network agents, the modification is applied and an updated version of the network program is stored by the blockchain for synchronisation among the network devices.
9. A system in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the network devices are operable to post a peer request message over the network which includes a request to perform a function on a particular digital asset type and wherein the network program on at least one peer network device automatically evaluates the network environment contained within the blockchain to establish whether the requested function is permissible for the particular digital asset type.
10. A system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the network program on the at least one peer network device is further programmed to check that all appreciate authorisations for the request function have been satisfied.
11. A system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein, provided the request function is permissible and the appreciate authorisations have been satisfied, the at least one peer network device either executes the function or forwards the peer request message to a peer of that device, depending on whether the requested function can be performed by the at least one peer device.
12. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a software agent, the software agent in turn being operable to execute a network program that is embodied as program code in a blockchain that is stored and synchronised by the respective network devices, an initial version of the network program being stored in a root block of the blockchain and wherein the network program defines permissible network defined digital asset types and corresponding functions, as well as one or more rules for creating a structured network of the network devices, wherein the autonomous network agent is configured to allow an authorised user to call a function for modifying the network program via any one of the network devices and wherein, responsive to a consensus being reached among the autonomous network agents, the modification is applied and an updated version of the network program is stored by the blockchain for synchronisation among the network devices.