IP Library Granted Patent US 11,943,331
Granted Patent B2
US 11,943,331 · App. 16/962,813 · Granted Mar 26, 2024

Computer-implemented decision making system and method

Inventors: Silvia Bartolucci (London, GB); Pauline Bernat (London, GB); Daniel Joseph (London, GB)
Assignee: nChain Licensing AG
H04L9/008G06Q20/223G06Q20/3825G06Q20/3829H04L9/3252H04L2209/463
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,943,331
App. No.
16/962,813
Granted
Mar 26, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of making a decision on a blockchain is disclosed. First public keys are received from each of a plurality of participants (A, B, C), wherein each first public key represents a possible selection by a participant and is related to a corresponding first private key by a cryptographic operation having a homomorphic property. The first public keys are combined to generate second public keys, wherein each second public key represents a possible decision based on a combination of possible selections. Third public keys, corresponding to the second public keys, are communicated to the participants. A voting blockchain transaction is generated (T c voting), wherein an input of the voting transaction is a script executable by means of a digital signature corresponding to a first private key of each of a plurality of the participants, wherein each first private key represents a selection made by the participant. An output of the voting transaction is a script representing a decision based on the selections made by the participants. A payment blockchain transaction (T p payment) is generated for transferring a first digital asset, wherein execution of an output of the payment transaction requires a digital signature corresponding to a third public key corresponding to the decision of the voting transaction.

Claims (32)

1. A method of making a decision on a blockchain, wherein the decision is based on at least one respective selection made by each of a plurality of participants, the method comprising:

receiving, from each participant of a plurality of participants, a respective plurality of first public keys, wherein each said first public key represents a possible selection by said each participant and is related to a corresponding first private key by a cryptographic operation having a homomorphic property;

combining said first public keys, by means of said homomorphic property, to generate a plurality of second public keys, wherein each said second public key represents a possible decision based on a combination of said possible selections;

communicating, to each of said plurality of participants, a plurality of third public keys, wherein each said third public key corresponds to a respective said second public key;

generating a first blockchain transaction, wherein an input of said first blockchain transaction is a script executable by means of a respective digital signature corresponding to a respective said first private key of each participant of the plurality of participants, wherein each said first private key represents a said selection made by said each participant, and an output of said first blockchain transaction is a script representing a said decision based on said selections made by said participants; and

generating a second blockchain transaction for transferring a first digital asset, wherein execution of an output of said second blockchain transaction requires a digital signature corresponding to said third public key corresponding to said decision of said first blockchain transaction.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an input of the first blockchain transaction is a script accessible by means of a fourth public key possessed by a supervisor.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an output of the first blockchain transaction is a multi-signature script accessible by means of a digital signature corresponding to a fifth public key possessed by a supervisor.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein a plurality of said first private keys is stored in public key fields of said multi-signature script.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising receiving said first private keys from said participants in encrypted form.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising generating a fourth blockchain transaction for refunding at least part of said first digital asset in the event of non-execution of said second blockchain transaction.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the fourth blockchain transaction is time locked.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cryptographic operation is elliptic curve scalar multiplication.

9. A computer-implemented system comprising:

a processor; and

memory including executable instructions that, as a result of execution by the processor, cause the system to perform the steps of:

receiving, from each participant of a plurality of participants, a respective plurality of first public keys, wherein each said first public key represents a possible selection by said each participant and is related to a corresponding first private key by a cryptographic operation having a homomorphic property;

combining said first public keys, by means of said homomorphic property, to generate a plurality of second public keys, wherein each said second public key represents a possible decision based on a combination of said possible selections;

communicating, to each of said plurality of participants, a plurality of third public keys, wherein each said third public key corresponds to a respective said second public key;

generating a first blockchain transaction, wherein an input of said first blockchain transaction is a script executable by means of a respective digital signature corresponding to a respective said first private key of each participant of the plurality of participants, wherein each said first private key represents a said selection made by said each participant, and an output of said first blockchain transaction is a script representing a said decision based on said selections made by said participants; and

generating a second blockchain transaction for transferring a first digital asset, wherein execution of an output of said second blockchain transaction requires a digital signature corresponding to said third public key corresponding to said decision of said first blockchain transaction.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon executable instructions that, as a result of being executed by a processor of a computer system, cause the computer system to at least perform the steps of:

receiving, from each participant of a plurality of participants, a respective plurality of first public keys, wherein each said first public key represents a possible selection by said each participant and is related to a corresponding first private key by a cryptographic operation having a homomorphic property;

combining said first public keys, by means of said homomorphic property, to generate a plurality of second public keys, wherein each said second public key represents a possible decision based on a combination of said possible selections;

communicating, to each of said plurality of participants, a plurality of third public keys, wherein each said third public key corresponds to a respective said second public key;

generating a first blockchain transaction, wherein an input of said first blockchain transaction is a script executable by means of a respective digital signature corresponding to a respective said first private key of each participant of the plurality of participants, wherein each said first private key represents a said selection made by said each participant, and an output of said first blockchain transaction is a script representing a said decision based on said selections made by said participants; and

generating a second blockchain transaction for transferring a first digital asset, wherein execution of an output of said second blockchain transaction requires a digital signature corresponding to said third public key corresponding to said decision of said first blockchain transaction.

11. A computer-implemented system according to claim 9 , wherein an input of the first blockchain transaction is a script accessible by means of a fourth public key possessed by a supervisor.

12. The computer-implemented system according to claim 9 , wherein an output of the first blockchain transaction is a multi-signature script accessible by means of a digital signature corresponding to a fifth public key possessed by a supervisor.

13. The computer-implemented system according to claim 12 , wherein a plurality of said first private keys is stored in public key fields of said multi-signature script.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 1 , wherein an input of the first blockchain transaction is a script accessible by means of a fourth public key possessed by a supervisor.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 10 , wherein an output of the first blockchain transaction is a multi-signature script accessible by means of a digital signature corresponding to a fifth public key possessed by a supervisor.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 7, 2023
From: NCHAIN HOLDINGS LTD
To: NCHAIN LICENSING AG
Reel/Frame 063560/0365 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 16, 2020
From: BARTOLUCCI, SILVIA; BERNAT, PAULINE; JOSEPH, DANIEL
To: NCHAIN HOLDINGS LTD
Reel/Frame 053233/0908 →
Priority Claims (1)
GB 1800818 · Jan 18, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230162182A1 · May 25, 2023
Cited By (2)
US 12,506,610 US 12,531,751