Abstract: A computer implemented method and system is described which uses blockchain technology as a storage system for data acquired from a digital twin. The blockchain can be used to generate an immutable transaction history of data produced by the digital twin. In the case of an error, failure, incident, or accident, parties of interest can then access and analyse an immutable set of data. The blockchain network can also execute a digital smart contract based on the data received from a digital twin. The invention may be used in conjunction with the Bitcoin blockchain or another blockchain protocol.

Abstract: Techniques are presented for controlling or influencing use of and/or access to a resource. This resource may be a device, such as an IoT (Internet of Things) device or a process. Techniques include a method comprising generating a blockchain transaction (TxA) indicative of a condition on use of, or access to, the resource for a specified period of time, the blockchain transaction comprising a multi-signature script requiring a plurality of signatures for completion of the blockchain transaction; providing a first subset of the plurality of signatures to the blockchain transaction (TxA) to generate a partially signed signature script to partially complete the blockchain transaction (SI 14); and responsive to the condition on the use of, or access to, the resource being satisfied, providing a second subset of the plurality of signatures (S204) to the blockchain transaction to fully complete the blockchain transaction.

Abstract: A specialized network (“merchant”) node to facilitate fast distribution of blockchain transactions over a network of interconnected nodes, as subset of which are merchant nodes interconnected by an overlay network. The merchant node includes a memory storing an assigned portion of a distributed mempool structured as a distributed hash table, the distributed mempool containing pending transactions awaiting confirmation. The merchant node operates by receiving a transaction, including a transaction identifier; hashing the new transaction identifier to obtain a key; determining, using the key, whether the transaction is stored in the distributed mempool or not and, if not, then storing the transaction in the distributed mempool as a pending transaction; and sending the transaction to a set of nodes other than merchant nodes using peer-to-peer connections. The invention may be used in conjunction with the Bitcoin blockchain or an alternative.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method to validate a block at a node within a network of nodes implementing a blockchain conforming to a blockchain protocol. This may be the Bitcoin protocol or an alternative. The method includes determining, serially, that each unspent transaction output referenced as an input in each of the plurality of transactions is unique and, based on that determination allocating each transaction in the plurality of transactions to one of two or more parallel processors, and verifying, in parallel, by the two or more parallel processors, that the transactions in the plurality of transactions comply with transaction-level validation criteria. The node also determines that the block meets block-level validation criteria. If the transactions comply with transaction-level validation criteria and the block complies with block-level validation criteria, the block is deemed valid and the node forwards the block to one or more peer nodes in the network.

Abstract: The computer implemented invention provides a method, corresponding systems and arrangement within a network for detecting changes in the topology, ordering those changes by occurrence and constructing a new topology reflecting the changes. The invention addresses problems with keeping the knowledge of the network topology at each network node current, particularly when the network topology is dynamic, i.e., when links fail and recover at arbitrary times. The topology updating is event driven, as it is activated when some change in the network, particularly with nodes and links occurs. Events cause topology changes to be reported to other nodes in the network. Timestamping of messages allows the messages to be correctly applied as the most recent update or discarded. An algorithm is provided that allows each merchant node to maintain a correct view of the network topology despite link and node failures.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein relate to techniques that allow for multiple parties to jointly generate or jointly agree upon the parameters for generation of a smart contract, such as a verification key. Execution of the smart contract may be performed by a third party, for example, a worker node on a blockchain network. Techniques described herein may be utilised as part of a protocol in which parties of a smart contract share powers of a secret in a manner that allows each party to determine an identical common reference string, agree on parameters for a smart contract, agree and/or make proportionate contributions the smart contract, and combinations thereof. The smart contract may be published to a blockchain network (e.g., Bitcoin Cash). The protocol may be a zero-knowledge protocol.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for a node of a blockchain network comprising receiving or generating data for distribution in the blockchain network, said node having a plurality of interfaces, said data corresponding to an object such as a transaction or a block. The transaction can be a Bitcoin transaction for recordal in a blockchain. The method determines a correlation matrix having correlation coefficients representing the correlation between data processed at each interface of said node. From the correlation matrix a correlation index for each interface is determined. A threshold or indicator is calculated and data or objects such as Bitcoin transactions are relayed from nodes via interfaces according to a set of correlation coefficients of interface receiving the data. An indicator or threshold can derived from the correlation matrix and data is relayed if the correlation between the receiving interface and the other interface is lower than the indicator.

Abstract: A specialized network (“merchant”) node to facilitate fast distribution of blockchain transactions over a network of interconnected nodes, as subset of which are merchant nodes interconnected by an overlay network. The merchant node includes a memory storing an assigned portion of a distributed mempool structured as a distributed hash table, the distributed mempool containing pending transactions awaiting confirmation. The merchant node operates by receiving a transaction, including a transaction identifier; hashing the new transaction identifier to obtain a key; determining, using the key, whether the transaction is stored in the distributed mempool or not and, if not, then storing the transaction in the distributed mempool as a pending transaction; and sending the transaction to a set of nodes other than merchant nodes using peer-to-peer connections. The invention may be used in conjunction with the Bitcoin blockchain or an alternative.

Abstract: Techniques are presented to decompose the functionality of a blockchain transaction script into several chunks or functional parts, and to use the output of a chunk as the input of the next chunk. Advantageously, this allows the blockchain to be used for ever complex tasks and computations while minimizing script size, and also provides a novel architecture for the distributed execution of computational processes. A presented method obtains data from at least one data storage resource, the data comprising a first unlocking script corresponding to a first blockchain transaction and a second unlocking script corresponding to a second blockchain transaction, and controls a task or computation based on the data obtained as a result of the first and second blockchain transactions.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein relate to techniques in which multiple parties each generate and exchange quantities that are based on a shared secret (e.g., powers of the shared secret) without exposing the shared secret. According to a protocol, two or more parties may exchange sets of elliptic curve points generated over polynomials that can be used, by each of the two or more parties, to determine a power of a shared secret. The protocol may be utilised as part of determining parameters for a smart contract that is broadcast to a blockchain network (e.g., Bitcoin). Based on the protocol, an additional party (e.g., a third party different from the two or more parties) may perform a computational task such as execution of the smart contract.

Abstract: The invention provides a blockchain-implemented control method and corresponding system(s). The invention may control access to an internet-enabled resource such as an IoT device that is provided with computing capabilities enabling it to communicate with other computer-based resources and interact with a distributed ledger such as a blockchain. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for controlling the use of an internet-enabled resource comprising providing a first blockchain transaction comprising at least one output which is redeemable only by provision of at least: i) a secret value selected by a user; and ii) a signature associated with a resource provider; sending use-related information to the resource; generating a second blockchain transaction requesting at least the secret value; and modifying the second blockchain transaction to include the secret value.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method implemented in a blockchain network is described. Validation nodes receive data regarding a newly mined block comprising a plurality of transactions and send a delete request to a distributed memory pool to delete the plurality of transactions from the distributed memory pool. Nodes storing the distributed memory pool store a plurality of transactions, the plurality of transactions forming at least part of a distributed memory pool of transactions waiting to be mined into a block of a blockchain. The computer-implemented method further comprises receiving a delete request from a validation node of the blockchain network, the delete request identifying one or more transactions which have been included in a newly mined block, the delete request indicating that the one or more transactions should be deleted from the distributed memory pool.

Abstract: The invention relates to distributed ledger technologies such as consensus-based blockchains. A blockchain transaction may include digital resources that are encumbered by a locking script that encodes a set of conditions that must be fulfilled before the encumbered resources may be used (e.g., transferring ownership/control of encumbered resources). A worker (e.g., a computer system) performs one or more computations to generate a proof, which is encoded as part of an unlocking script. A verification algorithm may utilize the proof, a verification key, and additional data such as a cryptographic material associated with the worker (e.g., a digital signature) to verify that digital assets of the transaction should be transferred. As a result of the validation of this transaction, any third party is able to check the contract was executed corrected rather than re-executing the contract, thus saving computational power.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system is described which uses blockchain technology as a storage system for data acquired from a digital twin. The blockchain can be used to generate an immutable transaction history of data produced by the digital twin. In the case of an error, failure, incident, or accident, parties of interest can then access and analyse an immutable set of data. The blockchain network can also execute a digital smart contract based on the data received from a digital twin. The invention may be used in conjunction with the Bitcoin blockchain or another blockchain protocol.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for converting high level source code into an arithmetic circuit which represents the functionality expressed in the source code. The invention comprises a translation/interpretation component for performing this conversion. In a preferred embodiment, the source code is a smart contract such as those used in relation to a blockchain platform. The invention could be used in relation to the Bitcoin network, for example. A method in accordance with an embodiment comprises the steps of: processing a portion of high level source code (e.g. a smart contract) to generate an arithmetic circuit. The arithmetic circuit comprises one or more arithmetic gates arranged to represent at least some of the functionality expressed in the source code. The processing involves evaluating one or more constants provided in the source code to produce one or more expressions that include Boolean and/or arithmetic operators.

Abstract: The computer implemented invention provides a method, corresponding systems and arrangement within a network for detecting changes in the topology, ordering those changes by occurrence and constructing a new topology reflecting the changes. The invention addresses problems with keeping the knowledge of the network topology at each network node current, particularly when the network topology is dynamic, i.e. when links fail and recover at arbitrary times. The topology updating is event driven, as it is activated when some change in the network, particularly with nodes and links occurs. Events cause topology changes to be reported to other nodes in the network. Timestamping of messages allows the messages to be correctly applied as the most recent update or discarded. An algorithm is provided that allows each merchant node to maintain a correct view of the network topology despite link and node failures.

Abstract: Techniques are presented for removing a connection to a peer node determined to be malicious based on transactions received from the peer node.

Abstract: The invention relates to distributed ledger technologies such as consensus-based blockchains. Computer-implemented methods for reducing arithmetic circuits derived from smart contracts are described. The invention is implemented using a blockchain network, which may be, for example, a Bitcoin blockchain. A set of conditions encoded in a first programming language is obtained. The set of conditions is converted into a programmatic set of conditions encoded in a second programming language. The programmatic set of conditions is precompiled into precompiled program code. The precompiled program code is transformed into an arithmetic circuit. The arithmetic circuit is reduced to form a reduced arithmetic circuit, and the reduced arithmetic circuit is stored.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system is described which uses blockchain technology as a storage system for data acquired from a digital twin. The blockchain can be used to generate an immutable transaction history of data produced by the digital twin. In the case of an error, failure, incident, or accident, parties of interest can then access and analyse an immutable set of data. The blockchain network can also execute a digital smart contract based on the data received from a digital twin. The invention may be used in conjunction with the Bitcoin blockchain or another blockchain protocol.

Abstract: Methods and devices for propagating transactions in a network of nodes, each node having one or more connections to other nodes. The method includes receiving a plurality of incoming transactions over a time period; combining the plurality of incoming transactions using network coding to generate a composite message; sending the composite message to one or more nodes in the network; and determining an adjusted time period based on an equilibrium constant parameter and a count of transactions in the plurality of incoming transactions received over the time period.