Abstract: A computer implemented data distribution method is disclosed. The method comprises sending a portion of data from a sending resource on a network to one or more groups of receiving resources, each of the one or more groups being associated with a respective multicast address. Preferably, the portion of data comprises blockchain-related data. Also disclosed is computer equipment comprising memory comprising one or more memory units and processing apparatus comprising one or more processing units, wherein the memory stores code arranged to run on the processing apparatus, the code being configured so as when on the processing apparatus to perform the method. Also disclosed is a computer program embodied on computer-readable storage and configured so as, when run on one or more processors, to perform the method.

Abstract: The invention resides in associating data with a blockchain transaction (Tx), wherein said data is represented in a tree structure, processing a path of the tree structure that includes the data; processing a digital signature of an author and/or approver of said data; and validating that at least one of: the data, the digital signature and the blockchain transaction (Tx) is a part of the tree structure. Similarly, the invention resides processing such data for recordal and subsequent validation. In one example, a web address is represented by a tree structure. The data associated with the data of at least a web page of the web address is represented in the tree structure, and at least one of the data, the processed data and/or the digital signature is associated with a blockchain transaction (Tx), which is represented in the tree structure. The data and the associated tree structure can be recorded and subsequently processed to validate the data.

Abstract: The invention resides in computer-implemented method of operating a sending and/or receive resource. The resource is configured for generating, storing, processing, accessing and/or maintaining a record of a packet of data e.g. comprising at least a portion of blockchain data e.g. a blockchain transaction, block, block header etc. From the record an allocated address is determined. The resource sends, at least in part, the record across an electronic network to the allocated address. The allocated address can be a multicast address associated with a group of receiving resources. Determination can include processing the record e.g. parsing and/or hashing the record. Processing can include parsing and/or hashing the record to determine a key, and selecting at least one address from a set of addresses using the key.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for distributed and/or parallel processing of data records, and in particular mining of blockchain transactions in a blockchain block, and further still for generation of a Proof-of-Work (PoW) for a blockchain block. Advantageously, embodiments allow for separation of the PoW calculation from other blockchain mining/validation tasks. Preferably, a PoW requester sends a specialist PoW provider one or more of: i) a Merkle root for a Merkle tree that represents a set of transactions ii) a control transaction (TX0) and iii) a Merkle proof which confirms that TX0 is included in the set of transactions. TX0 may provide or comprise control data that the PoW provider can use to determine whether or not performance of the PoW calculation is to be performed or completed.

Abstract: An event detecting, monitoring and/or counting mechanism is disclosed. The event may be, for example, a vote, decision or selection which is made by a given entity. A counting solution is provided in which a computing resource, running simultaneously and in parallel to a blockchain, manages a loop-based operation. The computing resource continuously monitors the state of the blockchain as well as any other off-blockchain input data or source. The execution of the loop is influenced by the state of the blockchain. Each iteration of the loop that is executed by the computing resource is recorded in a transaction that is written to the blockchain. It is stored as a hash within the transaction's metadata. If the computing resource finds a transaction which contains a hash relating to the loop it accesses the relevant portion of code.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for revoking access to a first network, wherein the first network comprises a set of bridging nodes and a set of devices controllable by one or more of the set of bridging nodes, wherein each bridging node is also a respective node of a blockchain network, and wherein each bridging node and device is associated with a respective certificate granting access to the first network; the method being performed by a registration authority and comprising: obtaining an alert transaction, the alert transaction being a blockchain transaction and comprising a first output, the first output comprising an alert message identifying one or more bridging nodes and/or one or more devices; and revoking access to the first network by the identified one or more bridging nodes and/or one or more devices by revoking the respective certificate of the identified one or more bridging nodes and/or one or more devices.

Abstract: A method performed in a layered network. The layered network comprises a core layer comprising one or more core nodes, one or more intermediate layers each comprising one or more intermediate layer nodes, and one or more outer layers each comprising one or more outer layer nodes. Each of the core nodes is a node of a blockchain network. One or more intermediate layer nodes are smart contracts nodes providing a smart contract service for maintaining the state of a smart contract. One or more outer layer nodes are client nodes of the smart contract service. The method included, by a smart contract node: recording a state of the smart contract in a record of the state maintained at the first smart contract node. In addition, at least a first transaction also recording the state is recorded on a blockchain of the blockchain network.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel and advantageous method and corresponding system. The invention is implemented via a distributed electronic ledge (blockchain). This may or may not be the Bitcoin blockchain. The invention is suited for the exchange or transfer of an asset, e.g. a digital asset, such as tickets and the like (but not limited in this regard).

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of propagating blockchain messages, wherein a blockchain network comprises a plurality of blockchain nodes, wherein each blockchain node is associated with a respective set of blockchain nodes, wherein the method is performed by a first blockchain node and comprises: making a first blockchain message available to each blockchain node belonging to the respective set of blockchain nodes associated with the first blockchain node, wherein the respective set of blockchain nodes comprises some but not all of the plurality of blockchain nodes.

Abstract: The invention resides in a computer-implemented communication method. The method comprises a mechanism for service provisioning from a service provider to one or more devices in a plurality of devices controlled by, or associated with, a device controller. In an example embodiment, the service provider allocates a set of IPv6 addresses to the device controller. In turn, the device controller allocates or communicates one or more of the set of IPv6 addresses to at least one of the devices. The device then includes the one or more IPv6 address that it has received from the device controller in an access request to the service provider. Upon verification that the requesting device is authorised by the device controller, the service provider provides the service to the one or more addresses included in the access request.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed. The method includes providing a blockchain transaction comprising a public key combination verification function. The blockchain transaction is configured to be redeemable to permit access to, or transfer control of, a resource by providing to the blockchain transaction an input comprising: a plurality of public keys; a gradient value (?) related to two of the plurality of public keys; and a group public key derived from a combination of the public keys and the gradient value (?). The blockchain transaction is configured to apply the public key verification function to the input to verify, upon successful redemption of the transaction, that the group public key is derived from the combination of the plurality of public keys.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for connecting to a layered network. The layered network comprises a plurality of nodes arranged in an ordered set of layers. The ordered set of layers comprises, in order, a core layer comprising a set of core nodes, a second layer comprising a set of second nodes, and one or more outer layers each comprising a respective set of outer nodes. Each core node is connected to at least one other core node. The method is performed by a connecting node and comprises connecting to the network according to a connection protocol. The connection protocol requires that each node must connect to at least one node of a preceding layer, and each outer node must also connect to at least one core node.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of representing a first set of data items, wherein the method is performed by a first tree generator and comprises: allocating the first set of data items into a plurality of respective subsets; for each respective subset of data items, generating a respective hash tree based on the respective subset of data items, wherein the respective hash tree comprises a respective root node; and generating a respective first hash set representing the first set of data items, wherein the first hash set comprises each of the respective root nodes.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method processes a tree structure that represents an item and/or at least one component of the item associated with a blockchain transaction, which is represented in the tree structure, which can be a hash tree that can be asymmetric, such as an ontology tree. A record of the item and/or the at least one component of the item can be processed, tracked, and validated via the tree structure and associated data. Validating can include at least one of: validating that at least one of: the item, the at least one component of the item and the at least a portion of a blockchain transaction (Tx) is a part of the tree structure; and processing and/or storing at least one of: the item, the at least one component of the item and the at least a portion of a blockchain transaction (Tx) in an allocated resource.

Abstract: A computer-implemented access method is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (i) submitting, to a blockchain (such as the Bitcoin blockchain), an access blockchain transaction addressed to a derived public key derived at least in part from a secret value and a public key; (ii) generating a verification public key based at least in part on the secret value and the public key; (iii) comparing the derived public key and the verification public key; and (iv) based on the comparison of step (iii): (a) allocating the at least one of the derived and verification public key as a further public key for verifying a further derived public key; and (b) granting access to a resource associated with at least one of the secret value and the derived public key.

Abstract: Presented herein are one or more embodiments with novel techniques of: defining an asset comprising at least one private cryptographic key, each private cryptographic key being associated with an owner of the asset; generating a registry comprising at least one public cryptographic key; generating a smart contract comprising at least one rule relating to an automated generation of one or more blockchain transactions to enable a transfer to be made in respect of the asset; and using a computing agent to evaluate and/or execute the at least one rule of the smart contract. Thus, one benefit provided by the invention is that it allows the secure distribution of costs and income for an asset registered and maintained on the Blockchain, which, in turn increases the capability of such assets to meet the real-world needs of various entities such as the asset itself and investing parties.

Abstract: A method of encrypting data comprises determining, at a first node associated with a first public-private key pair of a cryptography system having a first private key (VA) and a first public key (PA), a common secret (S1) common with the first node and a second node, wherein the second node is associated with a second public-private key pair of the cryptography system having a second private key (VB) and a second public key (PB). The common secret is determined on the basis of the first private key and the second public key, and the properties of the cryptography system are such that the common secret can be determined on the basis of the second private key and the first public key. An encryption key, based on the common secret, is determined for encryption of data (M), and the data is encrypted on the basis of the encryption key.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of facilitating payments between multiple first parties and a second party, comprising: executing a respective payment channel between each respective first party and an intermediate party by: obtaining a channel opening transaction comprising an output locking a maximum value; obtaining one or more channel closing transactions including a final channel closing transaction, the final channel closing transaction comprising a first output and a second output, the first output locking a first amount of the maximum value, and second output locking a second amount of the maximum value; and generating a payment transaction, wherein the payment transaction comprises a plurality of inputs, each input referencing a second output of a final channel closing transaction, and an output locked to a public key of the second party, the output locking a value based on a total of the second amounts locked by the second outputs.

Abstract: A method performed by a first party, the method comprising: receiving, from a second party, information of a first blockchain transaction, the first blockchain transaction comprising an input and an output, wherein the input of the first blockchain transaction comprises a signature of the second party and wherein the output of the first blockchain transaction is locked to a public key of the first party; performing an action comprising at least one of: receiving authorisation of access to a product or service; issuing authorisation of access to a product or service; providing a product or service; receiving a product or service; in response to performing the action, providing, as part of a first input of a second blockchain transaction, a signature of the first party to unlock the output of the first blockchain transaction

Abstract: A method for enabling a verifying party to verify an identity of a target party or device. The method comprises, in a set-up phase: storing, in a data store, a respective piece of response data for each of a set of one or more responses resulting from a setting-up party inputting a respective set of one or more challenges into a PUF module comprising a physically unclonable function, PUF, to generate the one or more responses based on the PUF; and storing an indication of the set of challenges in the data store. The indication does not comprise a value of each of the challenges in the set, but rather a master challenge from which the set of challenges is derivable by applying a derivation function to the master challenge.