Patents by Inventor Eric R. Stephens

Eric R. Stephens has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20250131114
    Abstract: A system for protecting access to digital documents may include a blockchain network and a stamp generation node. The stamp generation node may receive a digital document and access parameters from a first user node. A unique identifier for the document may be generated and recorded on the blockchain with the access parameters. A QR code encoding a URL for accessing the document may be generated and embedded in the document. A shortened URL corresponding to the encoded URL may be generated and transmitted to a second user node. When accessed, the shortened URL may cause the stamp generation node to verify the access parameters on the blockchain and grant or deny access to the document based on the verification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2024
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Inventor: Eric R. Stephens
  • Patent number: 12174980
    Abstract: A digital document protection system is disclosed. The system includes a processor of a stamp generation node connected to at least first user node and to a second user node over a blockchain network; a memory on which are stored machine-readable instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: receive a digital document from the first user node designated to the second user node; execute a smart contract to: generate a URL referencing a QR code and a unique tiny URL represented by the QR code, embed the QR code onto the document, wherein the document is accessible at the URL, and provide the tiny URL to the second node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: zPaper, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric R. Stephens
  • Publication number: 20230334163
    Abstract: A digital document protection system is disclosed. The system includes a processor of a stamp generation node connected to at least first user node and to a second user node over a blockchain network; a memory on which are stored machine-readable instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: receive a digital document from the first user node designated to the second user node; execute a smart contract to: generate a URL referencing a QR code and a unique tiny URL represented by the QR code, embed the QR code onto the document, wherein the document is accessible at the URL, and provide the tiny URL to the second node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventor: Eric R. Stephens