Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide solutions for securing, sharing, validating and/or generating data resources such as, but not limited to, documents. In an example embodiment, the data resource is expressed, represented or defined as a plurality of constituent segments, which are then hashed. A Merkle tree is generated that represents the complete, original version of the data resource, with the segment hashes as its leaves. An authorised signatory signs the root of the tree. A redacted version of the data resource can then be shared, omitting one or more segments that the data controller wishes to keep secret or not share in their original form. In order to verify the authenticity and/or integrity of the redacted data resource, a validator is provided with sufficient data (e.g. the respective hashes of the non-shared segment(s)) to verify the existence of the non-shared segment(s) in the tree that represents the original, complete.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of obtaining application-related data, wherein the method is performed by a first party and comprises: determining a first multicast network address associated with a first application; and obtaining, using the first multicast address, one or more respective blockchain transactions and/or one or more respective proof of inclusions, each respective proof of inclusion associated with a respective blockchain transaction, wherein each respective blockchain transaction comprises respective data related to the first application.

Abstract: Embodiments utilise Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) to provide improved techniques for generating, processing, controlling, transferring and/or implementing blockchain-based tokens and other assets. Such tokens may include, but are not limited to, non-fungible tokens (NFTs). In one possible embodiment, an SVD-based digital asset is created by applying SVD to one or more existing digital asset(s) e.g. image(s). In an alternative approach, the SVD-based digital asset can be created from an artificially constructed SVD rather than based on any existing digital asset(s). Embodiments are also provided for secure, encrypted transmission of digital assets and tokens between parties, and for improved storage and processing of such assets and tokens, in particular when storing/processing on a blockchain ledger.

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: A method of storing data on a blockchain, such as the bitcoin blockchain, is disclosed. The method comprises generating a blockchain transaction having at least one first input and/or at least one first output containing first data (<Content 1>) to be stored on the blockchain, and at least one second input and/or at least one second output containing second data (<Attribute 1>, <Attribute 2>) representing at least one attribute of the first data. At least one second input and/or at least one second output is separate from the or each first input and/or first output.

Abstract: Methods and techniques are provided that employ multicast transmission and anycast transmission to coordinate and distribute tasks and/or processing requests amongst groups of resources on a network. In one embodiment, the groups of resources can include nodes or other resources of a blockchain network that implement all or part of a particular blockchain protocol (e.g., Bitcoin SV protocol), and/or service providers that provide services to a blockchain-related organisation, group or network.

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: Embodiments provide secure and flexible technical solutions for the verification of a user's identity, the creation of a web of trust, and/or the implementation of a PKI or Web of Trust. Some embodiments may be particularly suited for use in conjunction with a blockchain. The disclosure enables a validating entity to apply their own rules, policies and criteria for selection and/or combination of identity resources e.g. documents from a set of such resources that have been made available by a user. Thus, the user has control over which documents are made available to the validating entity, while the validating entity is able to select which, how many, and what type of resources it deems acceptable in order to successfully establish the user's identity. Access to a resource controlled by the validating entity is granted or denied as a result of the attempt to validate that the user is who they say they are based upon the resources they have provided.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for granting permission to a requestor to join a first network. 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. Each bridging node is also a respective node of a blockchain network. The method is performed by a registration authority and comprises generating a first blockchain transaction. The first blockchain transaction comprises an input comprising a signature linked to a first public key of the registration authority. The first blockchain transaction also comprises a first output comprising a first certificate, the first certificate comprising an identifier assigned to the requestor. The method further comprises transmitting the first blockchain transaction to the blockchain network for inclusion in the blockchain.

Abstract: A method performed by a node in a blockchain network, the method comprising: determining if a number of transactions in a set of validated transactions is above a first threshold; when the number of transactions in the set of validated transactions is above the first threshold, performing computations to include the set of validated transactions in a blockchain.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to use of a blockchain in implementing, controlling and/or automating a task or process. An embodiment of the disclosure may comprise the steps of: providing a blockchain transaction comprising a redeem script for an output, wherein the redeem script comprises: i) a plurality of input parameters, wherein each input parameter is uniquely associated with a potential state of at least one data source, which value is determined by a sensor and supplied to an unlocking script of a further transaction arranged to spend the output; and wherein one of the plurality of input parameters which is a target output parameter; ii) logic arranged is based on a calculation performed on the plurality of the input parameters provided by an unlocking script to provide an interim result. And each transaction output attempt has a different parameter comparing a target output parameter against the interim result.

Abstract: Systems and computer-implemented methods for freezing or unfreezing digital assets on a blockchain. A freeze administration service may send a signed freeze request to mining nodes, which maintain two blacklists of digital asset identifiers: a pending blacklist and a consensus blacklist. The digital asset identifiers may be transaction outpoints in some cases. If accepted by the mining node, the transaction outpoints in the freeze request are added to the pending blacklist, which causes rejection of any transactions using those outpoints, but does not cause rejection of any new blocks that include transactions using those outpoints. If a consensus threshold of acceptances is reached based on hash power, the request becomes an order and the outpoints are added to the consensus blacklist, which causes rejection of any transaction or block containing a transaction using those outpoints.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of determining whether blockchain nodes have a synchronised view of a blockchain, wherein the method is performed by a first blockchain node and comprises: sending i) a first block height corresponding to a most recent block of the blockchain stored by the first blockchain node and ii) a first timestamp corresponding to a current time held by the first blockchain node, to a second blockchain node; receiving i) a second block height corresponding to a most recent block of the blockchain stored by the second blockchain node, and ii) a second timestamp corresponding to a current time held by the second blockchain node, from the second blockchain node; and determining whether the first and second blockchain nodes have a synchronised view of the blockchain based on the first and second block heights and the first and second timestamps.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for searching a blockchain (e.g. Bitcoin) for data/content stored in one or more blockchain transactions, and accessing that data/content. It may be used in conjunction with a protocol for searching the blockchain. An embodiment of the invention can be arranged to enable a user to search for, access, view, write and/or retrieve a portion of data provided in at least one blockchain transaction (Tx), and also arranged to identify the at least one transaction (Tx) based on a transaction index (TXindex) comprising a transaction ID and a public key associated with the transaction (Tx). The system may comprise a search facility which is either provided within the blockchain search system; or arranged to interface and/or communicate with the blockchain search system. It may also comprise at least one cryptocurrency wallet.

Abstract: Embodiments utilise Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) to provide improved techniques for generating, processing, controlling, transferring and/or implementing blockchain-based tokens and other assets. Such tokens may include, but are not limited to, non-fungible tokens (NFTs). In one possible embodiment, an SVD-based digital asset is created by applying SVD to one or more existing digital asset(s) e.g. image(s). In an alternative approach, the SVD-based digital asset can be created from an artificially constructed SVD rather than based on any existing digital asset(s). Embodiments are also provided for secure, encrypted transmission of digital assets and tokens between parties, and for improved storage and processing of such assets and tokens, in particular when storing/processing on a blockchain ledger.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a blockchain-implemented database overlay and indexing mechanism. In one embodiment, records in the database are associated via the overlay to respective unspent outputs in transaction(s) on the blockchain. Each output comprises a locking script that specifies which keys can be used to spend the output to a further transaction. When a user wishes to access a given record in the database, the further (spending) transaction is generated and sent to the blockchain network. The further transaction comprises an unlocking script that provides the required key(s) to meet the conditions of the locking script, otherwise the blockchain's consensus mechanism will not allow spending of the output and access to the record will be denied. If, however, the requirements are met then the output is spent and the access request is deemed authorized. In this way, the consensus mechanism provides an improved permission control and user authorization solution for a database.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of determining a state of a system using one or more blockchain transactions, wherein each blockchain transaction comprises one or more outputs, and wherein the method is performed by a first party and comprises: determining a respective status of one or more respective outputs of one or more blockchain transactions; and determining the state of the system based on the respective status of the one or more respective outputs.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide technical solutions for securing, sharing validating and/or generating data resources such as, but not limited to, documents. In an example embodiment, the document is expressed or defined as a plurality of constituent segments, which are then hashed. A Merkle tree is generated that represents the document, with the segment hashes as its leaves. An authorised signatory signs the root of the tree. A redacted version of the document can then be shared, omitting one or more segments that the data controller wishes to keep secret. In order to verify the authenticity and/or integrity of the redacted document, a validator is provided with sufficient data to check the existence of the non-segment(s) in the tree and also the authorised signature that signed the root.

Abstract: A computer-implemented of propagating blockchain messages, wherein at least one blockchain node is associated with one or more respective range of numbers and one or more respective sets of blockchain nodes, wherein each respective range of numbers is associated with a respective set of blockchain nodes, and wherein the method comprises: for at least one of a plurality of respective blockchain messages, determining a respective number based on the respective blockchain message, wherein the respective number of one or more respective blockchain messages falls within a respective one of the one or more respective ranges; and for each respective range in which the respective number of one or more respective blockchain transactions falls, making available some or all of the one or more respective blockchain messages to each blockchain node belonging to the respective set of blockchain nodes associated with the respective node.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of generating a share of a shared private key, wherein each participant of a group of participants has a respective share of a master private key, and wherein the method is performed by a first participant of the group and comprises: generating a first share of a first shared secret, wherein each other participant of the group generates a respective share of the first shared secret; and generating a first share of a first shared private key based on a first share of the master private key and the first share of the first shared secret.