Granted Patent B2

US 12,248,539 · App. 17/401,532 · Granted Mar 11, 2025

Inventors: Craig Steven Wright (London, GB); Stephane Savanah (London, GB)

Assignee: NCHAIN LICENSING AG

G06F21/12G06F21/10G06Q20/123G06Q20/1235G06Q20/3823G06Q20/3825G06Q20/3827G06Q20/3829H04L9/0637H04L9/0643H04L9/3213H04L9/3236H04L9/3247H04L9/3252G06Q2220/00H04L9/50H04L2209/56

Abstract

Claims (64)

1. A computer-implemented method ( 100 ) for authorizing access to computer software for a first user (U 1 ), the method comprising:

determining a data (D 1 ) associated with the computer software, wherein the data (D 1 ) comprises a licence associated with the computer software, and the licence is associated with the first user (U 1 ) or a second user (U 2 ) and further comprises a first user public key (PU 1 ) associated with the first user (U 1 ) or a second user public key (PU 2 ) associated with the second user (U 2 );

determining a first hash value (H 1 ) of the computer software;

determining a second hash value (H 2 ) based on the data (D 1 ) and the computer software;

sending, over a communications network, the data (D 1 ), the first hash value (H 1 ) and the second hash value (H 2 ) to an entry for storage in a distributed hash table as a key-value pair, wherein the second hash value (H 2 ) is a key of a key-value pair and the data (D 1 ) and the first hash value (H 1 ) are a value in the key-value pair;

determining a metadata (M) comprising the second hash value (H 2 ) for storage on a peer-to-peer distributed ledger; and

determining a second redeem script (RS 2 ), wherein the second redeem script (RS 2 ) is based on:

the metadata (M),

an agent public key (PA) associated with an agent (A), and

the first user public key (PU 1 ) associated with the first user (U 1 ); and

sending, over a second communications network, a second data output (O 2 ) to the peer-to-peer distributed ledger based on:

an indication that a first quantity of cryptocurrency (C 1 ) from a first data output (O 1 ) is to be transferred, and

the second redeem script (RS 2 ).

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a first redeem script (RS 1 ), wherein the first redeem script is based on:

the metadata (M); and

an agent public key (PA) associated with an agent (A).

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

sending, over the communications network, a first data output (O 1 ) for storage on the peer-to-peer distributed ledger based on:

an indication of a first quantity of cryptocurrency (C 1 ) to be transferred, wherein the first quantity of cryptocurrency (C 1 ) is associated with the first redeem script (RS 1 ); and

the first redeem script (RS 1 ).

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the licence further comprises a hash value associated with at least one electronic device of the first user (U 1 ) or the second user (U 2 ).

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the licence further comprises the first hash value (H 1 ).

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the licence comprises a top hash value of a Merkle tree.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining an identifier indicative of a location of the computer software or the licence;

assigning the identifier to the value in the key-value pair; and

sending, over the communications network, the identifier to the entry on the distributed hash table.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining an identifier indicative of a location of the computer software or the licence;

assigning the identifier to the value in the key-value pair;

sending, over the communications network, the identifier to the entry on the distributed hash table;

determining the metadata (M) from a first redeem script (RS 1 );

retrieving the second hash value (H 2 ) from the metadata (M);

sending over the communications network, the second hash value (H 2 ) to a processor associated with a participating node of the distributed hash table; and

determining, from the processor of the participating node, the identifier indicative of the location of the computer software or licence.

9. The method of claim 3 wherein the cryptocurrency is Bitcoin.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the peer-to-peer distributed ledger is a blockchain.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions, that when executed by a processing device comprising a processor and memory, cause the processing device to:

determine a data (D 1 ) associated with computer software, wherein the data (D 1 ) comprises a licence associated with the computer software, and the licence is associated with a first user (U 1 ) or a second user (U 2 ) and further comprises a first user public key (PU 1 ) associated with the first user (U 1 ) or a second user public key (PU 2 ) associated with the second user (U 2 );

determine a first hash value (H 1 ) of the computer software;

determine a second hash value (H 2 ) based on the data (D 1 ) and the computer software;

send, over a communications network, the data (D 1 ), the first hash value (H 1 ) and the second hash value (H 2 ) to an entry for storage in a distributed hash table as a key-value pair, wherein the second hash value (H 2 ) is a key of a key-value pair and the data (D 1 ) and the first hash value (H 1 ) are a value in the key-value pair;

determine ( 150 ) a metadata (M) comprising the second hash value (H 2 ) for storage on a peer-to-peer distributed ledger; and

determine a second redeem script (RS 2 ), wherein the second redeem script (RS 2 ) is based on:

the metadata (M),

an agent public key (PA) associated with an agent (A), and

the first user public key (PU 1 ) associated with the first user (U 1 ); and

sending, over a second communications network, a second data output (O 2 ) to the peer-to-peer distributed ledger based on:

an indication that a first quantity of cryptocurrency (C 1 ) from a first data output (O 1 ) is to be transferred, and

the second redeem script (RS 2 ).

12. A computer system operative authorize access to computer software for a first user (U 1 ), the computer system comprising a computing device associated with a node, configured to:

determine a data (D 1 ) associated with the computer software, wherein the data (D 1 ) comprises a licence associated with the computer software, and the licence is associated with the first user (U 1 ) or a second user (U 2 ) and further comprises a first user public key (PU 1 ) associated with the first user (U 1 ) or a second user public key (PU 2 ) associated with the second user (U 2 );

determine a first hash value (H 1 ) of the computer software;

determine a second hash value (H 2 ) based on the data (D 1 ) and the computer software;

send, over a communications network, the data (D 1 ), the first hash value (H 1 ) and the second hash value (H 2 ) to an entry for storage in a distributed hash table as a key-value pair, wherein the second hash value (H 2 ) is a key of a key-value pair and the data (D 1 ) and the first hash value (H 1 ) are a value in the key-value pair;

determine a metadata (M) comprising the second hash value (H 2 ) for storage on a peer-to-peer distributed ledger; and

determine a second redeem script (RS 2 ), wherein the second redeem script (RS 2 ) is based on:

the metadata (M),

an agent public key (PA) associated with an agent (A), and

the first user public key (PU 1 ) associated with the first user (U 1 ); and

sending, over a second communications network, a second data output (O 2 ) to the peer-to-peer distributed ledger based on:

an indication that a first quantity of cryptocurrency (C 1 ) from a first data output (O 1 ) is to be transferred, and

the second redeem script (RS 2 ).

Assignments (3)

Priority Claims (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (400)