Granted Patent B2

US 12,307,454 · App. 17/562,754 · Granted May 20, 2025

Inventors: Muhammad Saad (Scottsdale, AZ); Jakub Burgis (Scottsdale, AZ); Raoul Johnson (Scottsdale, AZ)

Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.

G06Q20/401H04L9/3239G06Q2220/00H04L9/50H04L2209/56

Abstract

Claims (62)

1. A computer system comprising:

a non-transitory memory storing instructions; and

one or more hardware processors configured to execute the instructions and cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:

receiving, through a first channel in a second layer network layered on top of a first layer blockchain network, a request to transfer cryptocurrency from a first node in the second layer network, wherein the request to transfer the cryptocurrency is locked under a specified condition, wherein the request to transfer the cryptocurrency is unlocked when the specified condition is resolved, and wherein the resolution of the specified condition involves a value of a variable that is unknown to the computer system;

receiving, from a second node in the second layer network, the value of the variable;

identifying, based on the receiving of the value of the variable, the second node in the second layer network as a recipient to which to transfer the cryptocurrency;

determining a first public address for the first node based on information associated with an establishment of the first channel;

determining a second public address for the second node based on information associated with an establishment of a second channel between the computer system and the second node, wherein the first public address and the second public address are used for the first layer blockchain network;

monitoring network activity of the first public address or the second public address, wherein the monitoring comprises:

probing a topology of the second layer network;

discovering one or more new nodes in the second layer network based on the probing; and

determining whether the first node or the second node opens an additional channel with at least one of the one or more new nodes in the second layer network; and

detecting, based on the monitoring of the network activity, a potential money laundering attempt associated with a first user corresponding to the first public address or with a second user corresponding to the second public address.

2. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

establishing a channel with each node in the second layer network such that the computer system is a third node in the second layer network that is one hop away from every node in the second layer network.

3. The computer system of claim 2 , wherein the operations further comprise adjusting a processing incentive amount for using the third node to transfer the cryptocurrency between nodes in the second layer network.

4. The computer system of claim 3 , wherein the processing incentive amount is adjusted to be less than each processing incentive amount broadcasted by other processing nodes in the second layer network.

5. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

tracking transfers of the cryptocurrency from the second node to other nodes in the second layer network;

determining public addresses of the other nodes for the first layer blockchain network; and

generating a report that includes the public addresses of the first node, the second node, and the other nodes, wherein the report is useable to monitor network activity of the public addresses on the first layer blockchain network.

6. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise routing the cryptocurrency, from the first node to the second node, using the second channel in the second layer network, wherein the first channel was established between the computer system and the first node with an inclusion of a first hashed timelock contract (HTLC), and wherein the second channel was established between the computer system and the second node with an inclusion of a second HTLC that has a same condition as the first HTLC.

7. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the probing of the topology is performed on a periodic basis.

8. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the additional channel comprises a payment channel.

9. A method, comprising:

receiving, through a first channel in a second layer network layered on top of a first layer blockchain network, a request to transfer cryptocurrency from a first node in the second layer network, wherein the request to transfer the cryptocurrency is locked under a specified condition, and wherein the resolution of the specified condition involves a value of a variable that is unknown to an entity that receives the request;

receiving, from a second node in the second layer network, the value of the variable;

identifying, based on the receiving of the value of the variable, the second node in the second layer network as a recipient to which to transfer the cryptocurrency;

determining a first public address for the first node based on information associated with an establishment of the first channel;

determining a second public address for the second node based on information associated with an establishment of a second channel between a computer system and the second node, wherein the first public address and the second public address are usable for the first layer blockchain network;

monitoring network activity of the first public address or the second public address, wherein the monitoring comprises:

accessing a plurality of nodes of the second layer network based on a probed topology of the second layer network; and

determining whether the first node or the second node opens an additional channel with a node of the plurality of nodes of the second layer network; and

detecting, based on the monitoring of the network activity, a potential money laundering attempt associated with a first user corresponding to the first public address or with a second user corresponding to the second public address.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

establishing a channel with each node in the second layer network such that the computer system is a third node in the second layer network that is one hop away from other nodes in the second layer network.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising adjusting a processing incentive amount for using the third node to transfer the cryptocurrency between nodes in the second layer network.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the processing incentive amount is adjusted to be less than each processing incentive amount broadcasted by other processing nodes in the second layer network.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

tracking transfers of the cryptocurrency from the second node to other nodes in the second layer network;

determining public addresses of the other nodes for the first layer blockchain network; and

generating a report that includes the public addresses of the first node, the second node, and the other nodes, wherein the report is useable to monitor network activity of the public addresses on the first layer blockchain network.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising routing the cryptocurrency, from the first node to the second node, using the second channel in the second layer network, wherein the first channel was established between the computer system and the first node with an inclusion of a first hashed timelock contract (HTLC), and wherein the second channel was established between the computer system and the second node with an inclusion of a second HTLC that has a same condition as the first HTLC.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising discovering one or more new nodes of the plurality of nodes based on probing the topology of the second layer network.

16. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions are executable to cause a machine of a system to perform operations comprising:

receiving, through a first channel in a second layer network layered on top of a first layer blockchain network, a request to transfer cryptocurrency from a first node in the second layer network, wherein the request to transfer the cryptocurrency is locked under a specified condition, and wherein the resolution of the specified condition involves a value of a variable that is unknown to an entity that receives the request;

receiving, from a second node in the second layer network, the value of the variable;

identifying, based on the receiving of the value of the variable, the second node in the second layer network as a recipient to which to transfer the cryptocurrency;

determining a first public address for the first node based on information associated with an establishment of the first channel;

determining a second public address for the second node based on information associated with an establishment of a second channel between a computer system and the second node, wherein the first public address and the second public address are used for the first layer blockchain network;

monitoring network activity of the first public address or the second public address at least in part by:

accessing a topology of the second layer network, the topology associated with a plurality of nodes; and

determining that the first node or the second node has opened a payment channel with one or more nodes of the plurality of nodes; and

detecting, based on the monitoring of the network activity, a potential money laundering attempt associated with a first user corresponding to the first public address or with a second user corresponding to the second public address.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise:

establishing a channel with each node in the second layer network such that the system is a third node in the second layer network that is one hop away from one or more other nodes in the second layer network.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise adjusting a processing incentive amount for using the third node to transfer the cryptocurrency between nodes in the second layer network.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the processing incentive amount is adjusted to be less than each processing incentive amount broadcasted by other processing nodes in the second layer network.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise:

tracking transfers of the cryptocurrency from the second node to other nodes in the second layer network;

determining public addresses of the other nodes for the first layer blockchain network; and

generating a report that includes the public addresses of the first node, the second node, and the other nodes, wherein the report is useable to monitor network activity of the public addresses on the first layer blockchain network.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (12)