Abstract: A node is provided for implementing an asset sharing scheme in which the asset is mobile. The node being is to determine a location of the mobile asset in dependence on data, relating to the mobile asset, that is recorded in a data corpus authenticated by a distributed authentication protocol. The node may be configured to interact with other nodes to implement the distributed authentication protocol.

Abstract: A vehicle comprising: a locking mechanism for securing the vehicle; a user input device exposed to the exterior of the vehicle; a transceiver for communicating with a network external to the vehicle; and a processor configured for implementing a public/private key security algorithm and coupled to the transceiver for sending and receiving data by means of the transceiver, and coupled to the locking mechanism for disengaging the locking mechanism to permit access to the vehicle; the processor being configured to: receive from the transceiver a data block including a first token, the first token representing a public key of a user; receive from the user input device a second token; compare the first and second tokens to determine whether the second token is consistent with having been derived from a private key that forms a key pair with the public key; and if that determination is positive, cause the locking mechanism to be disengaged.

Abstract: A vehicle comprising: a locking mechanism for securing the vehicle; a user input device exposed to the exterior of the vehicle; a transceiver for communicating with a network external to the vehicle; and a processor configured for implementing a public/private key security algorithm and coupled to the transceiver for sending and receiving data by means of the transceiver, and coupled to the locking mechanism for disengaging the locking mechanism to permit access to the vehicle; the processor being configured to: receive from the transceiver a data block including a first token, the first token representing a public key of a user; receive from the user input device a second token; compare the first and second tokens to determine whether the second token is consistent with having been derived from a private key that forms a key pair with the public key; and if that determination is positive, cause the locking mechanism to be disengaged.

Abstract: A node is provided for implementing an asset sharing scheme in which the asset is mobile. The node being is to determine a location of the mobile asset in dependence on data, relating to the mobile asset, that is recorded in a data corpus authenticated by a distributed authentication protocol. The node may be configured to interact with other nodes to implement the distributed authentication protocol.

Abstract: A node is provided that is configured to interact with one or more other nodes to implement a distributed authentication protocol. The node is configured to receive data that is indicative of use of a physical asset, generate a usage fee to be assigned to one or more owners of the physical asset in dependence on the use data and record that usage fee in a data corpus authenticated by the distributed authentication protocol.