Blockchain-based method and system for specifying the recipient of an electronic communication
A method and corresponding system is presented for controlling a blockchain transaction output and/or specifying the recipient of the output. It also provides a method of controlling and/or generating an electronic communication. The unlocking script is provided in order to spend an output from a further transaction (Tx 2 ) on the blockchain. The input of the transaction (Tx 1 ) and/or the output of the further transaction (Tx 2 ) may be associated with a tokenised asset represented on, or referenced via, the blockchain. The notification address may be associated with an asset or resource represented on the blockchain, or a controller of an asset or resource represented on the blockchain. The notification address may be a network address, a cryptographic key, a uniform resource locator (URI), email address or any other address or identifier which can be represented in the metadata of a transaction script and used as a destination for an electronic communication.
1. A method comprising:
submitting a transaction to a blockchain, wherein the transaction (Tx 1 ) comprises an unspent output (UTXO) that includes a redeem script that requires the provision of a notification address within the metadata of an unlocking script in order to spend the output (UTXO), wherein the redeem script further comprises a value indicating how many notification addresses must be supplied by the unlocking script.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending an electronic notification to the notification address that is provided as metadata within the unlocking script.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein:
the electronic notification comprises:
an incomplete or complete blockchain transaction, and/or
information relating to the location of, or means of access to, an incomplete blockchain transaction; and/or
information relating to an incomplete or complete blockchain transaction.
4. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising:
detecting a designated or predetermined event; and
sending the electronic notification in response to detection of the event.
5. A computer-implemented system arranged and configured to perform the method of claim 1 .
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the notification address is associated with an asset or resource represented on the blockchain, or a controller of an asset or resource represented on the blockchain.
7. The method according to claim 1 , and further comprising:
traversing the blockchain to identify the transaction (Tx 1 ) or a further transaction (Tx 2 ).
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the unspent output (UTXO) transfers ownership or control of, or otherwise relates to, a tokenised asset represented on, or referenced via, the blockchain.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the notification address is a network address, a cryptographic key, a uniform resource locator (URI), email address, or any other address or identifier that can be represented in the metadata of a script and used as a destination for an electronic communication.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the notification address is a destination for an off-blockchain electronic communication.
11. The method according to claim 2 , wherein:
the electronic notification is sent by an automated computing resource or agent.
12. A system according to claim 5 , wherein the system comprises:
a blockchain; and
at least one autonomous computing agent arranged and configured to:
traverse the blockchain; and/or
generate and or send an electronic notification to the notification address.