IP Library Granted Patent US 11,288,665
Granted Patent B2
US 11,288,665 · App. 16/549,330 · Granted Mar 29, 2022

TAAS for delay tolerant blockchain networks

Inventors: Pramita Mitra (West Bloomfield, MI); Yifan Chen (Ann Arbor, MI); Abhishek Sharma (Ann Arbor, MI); Eric H. Wingfield (Ann Arbor, MI); James Fishelson (Ypsilanti, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
G06Q20/389G06F16/2379G06F16/27G06Q30/0215H04L69/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,288,665
App. No.
16/549,330
Granted
Mar 29, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A blockchain block generated by one or more blockchain nodes when the one or more blockchain nodes are only connected to a local area network is received, and the blockchain block is synchronized with a blockchain. After determining that a backhaul network device is not connected to the one or more blockchain nodes and then determining that the backhaul network device is connected to the one or more blockchain nodes, the blockchain is transmitted to the one or more blockchain nodes via the backhaul network device upon determining that the backhaul network device is connected to the one or more blockchain nodes.

Claims (47)

1. A computer, including:

a processor; and

a memory, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a vehicle computer, a blockchain block generated by one or more blockchain nodes when the one or more blockchain nodes are only connected to a local area network;

synchronizing the blockchain block with a blockchain;

determining that a backhaul network device is not connected to the one or more blockchain nodes and then determining that the backhaul network device is connected to the one or more blockchain nodes; and

responsive to the determining that the backhaul network device is not connected to the one or more blockchain nodes and then determining that the backhaul network device is connected to the one or more blockchain nodes, transmitting the blockchain to the one or more blockchain nodes via the backhaul network device.

2. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores additional instructions that, when executed by the processor, further perform operations comprising:

transmitting a delivery confirmation to the vehicle computer.

3. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores additional instructions that, when executed by the processor, further perform operations comprising:

receiving the delivery confirmation and a reward reservation from the vehicle computer; and

generating, after receiving the delivery confirmation and the reward reservation, a transaction that allocates tokens to a digital account associated with the vehicle computer.

4. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the backhaul network device comprises a satellite.

5. The computer of claim 1 , wherein a vehicle includes the vehicle computer.

6. The computer of claim 5 , wherein the vehicle comprises at least one of a land vehicle or an aerial vehicle.

7. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the blockchain block is transmitted by the vehicle computer via a Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) communication protocol.

8. The computer of claim 7 , wherein the blockchain block is received by the vehicle computer from a roadside device disposed proximate to an intermittently-connected communication environment.

9. The computer of claim 8 , wherein a topic is associated with the blockchain block based on the MQTT communication protocol by the roadside device.

10. The computer of claim 9 , wherein the blockchain block is transmitted to the vehicle by the roadside device upon receiving a topic inquiry from the vehicle.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, from a vehicle computer, a blockchain block generated by one or more blockchain nodes when the one or more blockchain nodes are only connected to a local area network;

synchronizing, by the processor, the blockchain block with a blockchain;

determining, by the processor, that a backhaul network device is not connected to the one or more blockchain nodes and then determining that the backhaul network device is connected to the one or more blockchain nodes; and

responsive to the determining that the backhaul network device is not connected to the one or more blockchain nodes and then determining that the backhaul network device is connected to the one or more blockchain nodes, transmitting, by the processor, the blockchain to the one or more blockchain nodes via the backhaul network device.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising transmitting, by the processor, a delivery confirmation to the vehicle computer.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving, by the processor, the delivery confirmation and a reward reservation from the vehicle computer; and

generating, by the processor, after receiving the delivery confirmation and the reward reservation, a transaction that allocates tokens to a digital account associated with the vehicle computer.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the backhaul network device comprises a satellite.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein a vehicle includes the vehicle computer.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the vehicle comprises at least one of a land vehicle or an aerial vehicle.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the blockchain block is transmitted by the vehicle computer via a Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) communication protocol.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the blockchain block is received by the vehicle computer from a roadside device disposed proximate to an intermittently-connected communication environment.

19. A system comprising:

a vehicle including a vehicle system, the vehicle system comprising a vehicle computer including:

a first processor; and

a first memory, the first memory including instructions that, when executed by the first processor, perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a client device, a blockchain block generated by one or more blockchain nodes when the one or more blockchain nodes are only connected to a local area network and a reward reservation;

a management device including a computer including:

a second processor; and

a second memory, the second memory including instructions that, when executed by the second processor, perform operations comprising:

receiving, from the vehicle, the blockchain block and the reward reservation;

synchronizing the blockchain block with a blockchain;

updating a digital account associated with the vehicle based on the reward reservation;

determining that a backhaul network device is not connected to the one or more blockchain nodes and then determining that the backhaul network device is connected to the one or more blockchain nodes; and

responsive to the determining that the backhaul network device is not connected to the one or more blockchain nodes and then determining that the backhaul network device is connected to the one or more blockchain nodes, transmitting the blockchain to the one or more blockchain nodes via the backhaul network device.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the reward reservation comprises a preset token allocation.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2019
From: MITRA, PRAMITA; CHEN, YIFAN; SHARMA, ABHISHEK; WINGFIELD, ERIC H.; FISHELSON, JAMES
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 050148/0234 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210056544A1 · Feb 25, 2021