Abstract: In accordance with the invention there may be provided a method and corresponding system for controlling the performance of a process conducted via a blockchain. The blockchain may or may not be the Bitcoin blockchain. The process may be a lending process. Advantageously, the invention provides a mechanism which enables the ultimate owner of a property or other asset to borrow funds against that asset, and sets out how this can be achieved in a manner which does not require the return to the investor(s) to be determined through the payment of interest. This makes it compliant with non-interest forms of lending. The invention provides a blockchain-implemented method (and corresponding system) of embedding data in a blockchain transaction (Tx). The method comprises the steps of deriving a public-key-private key cryptographic pair for the data; deriving a signature for the data using the public key-private key cryptographic pair; codifying the data to generate codified metadata for the data.

Abstract: A method comprising: a second party receiving confirmation that a first party agrees to a statement; the second party receiving a piece of information after said confirmation, and after a cryptographic signature of the first party. To attest to this, the second party generates their own cryptographic signature by signing a portion of data comprising said piece of information or a transformation thereof. A network of nodes is then sent one or more transactions comprising the first and second signatures. Transactions are propagated across the network to be recorded in a blockchain on condition of meeting a validation condition. The validation condition for one of the one or more transactions comprises: the first signature is included in one of the one or more transactions, the second signature is included in one of the one or more transactions, and the second signature was generated by signing the particular portion of data.

Abstract: The invention provides improved verification solutions for blockchain-implemented transfers. It is suited for, but not limited to, implementation in an SPV wallet. In accordance with one embodiment, a system or resource is provided which comprises a plurality of novel SPV verification components, the activities of which are coordinated by a coordination component. The system enables Bob to send Alice a payment transaction template (template Tx3) and requests: the full transaction data for all input transactions (Tx1, Tx2) comprising at least one output that Alice wants to spend as inputs to a transfer (Tx3); the Merkle path for all input transactions (Tx1, Tx2) linking them to their respective Merkle roots associated with their respective block headers; the completed transfer transaction (Tx3). Alice provides this information plus her signature.

Abstract: The invention provides improved verification solutions for blockchain-implemented transfers. It is suited for, but not limited to, implementation in an SPV wallet. In accordance with one embodiment, a method, system or resource is provided which enables Alice to transfer an asset eg cryptocurrency or token to Bob across a blockchain. Alice stores complete transaction data relating to at least one blockchain transaction; and the complete Merkle path of the at least one blockchain transaction. This enables her to send Bob the full transaction data for all input transactions (eg Tx1, Tx2) comprising at least one output that she wants to spend as inputs to a transfer (eg Tx3); the Merkle path for all input transactions (Tx1, Tx2) linking them to their respective Merkle roots associated with their respective block headers; a transfer transaction (Tx3). Alice also provides her signature.

Abstract: A method of pseudo-randomly generating data is disclosed. The method Comprises receiving first data items (s1? s2? . . . sN?) from a plurality of first participants and combining the first data items to generate second data (?isi?). A one-way function is applied to the second data to generate third data (?isi?), wherein the one-way function is adapted to receive input data and generate output data based on the input data, wherein the input data is not deducible from the output data and the one-way function.

Abstract: The invention provides improved Simplified Payment Verification (SPV) solutions for blockchain-implemented transfers. It is suited for, but not limited to, implementation in one or more SPV wallets, or on smart cards etc. In accordance with one embodiment, a method, system or resource(s) is provided which enables Alice to transfer an asset to Bob. Bob sends Alice a payment transaction template (template Tx3) and requests: the full transaction data for all input transactions (Tx1, Tx2) comprising at least one output that Alice wants to spend as inputs to a transfer (Tx3); the Merkle path for all input transactions (Tx1, Tx2) linking them to their respective Merkle roots associated with their respective block headers; the completed transfer transaction (Tx3). Alice provides this information plus her signature and optionally a change address.

Abstract: The invention provides improved verification solutions for blockchain-implemented transfers. It is suited for, but not limited to, implementation in an SPV wallet. In accordance with one embodiment, a method, system or resource is provided in which Bob verifies a Merkle proof for a first transaction and, upon successful verification, submits a second transaction to the blockchain. The second transaction has an input that spends an output (UTXO) from the first transaction. Generally, the invention provides an arrangement in which Bob sends Alice a payment transaction template (template Tx3) and requests: the full transaction data for all input transactions (Tx1, Tx2) comprising at least one output that Alice wants to spend as inputs to a transfer (Tx3); the Merkle path for all input transactions (Tx1, Tx2) linking them to their respective Merkle roots associated with their respective block headers; the completed transfer transaction (Tx3).

Abstract: The invention provides improved verification solutions for blockchain-implemented transfers. It is suited for, but not limited to, implementation in an SPV wallet. In accordance with one embodiment, a method, system or resource is provided in which Bob verifies a Merkle proof for a first transaction and, upon successful verification, submits a second transaction to the blockchain. The second transaction has an input that spends an output (UTXO) from the first transaction. Generally, the invention provides an arrangement in which Bob sends Alice a payment transaction template (template Tx3) and requests: the full transaction data for all input transactions (Tx1, Tx2) comprising at least one output that Alice wants to spend as inputs to a transfer (Tx3); the Merkle path for all input transactions (Tx1, Tx2) linking them to their respective Merkle roots associated with their respective block headers; the completed transfer transaction (Tx3).

Abstract: The invention provides a novel and advantageous solution 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. The invention is implemented via a distributed ledger (blockchain). This may be the Bitcoin blockchain or some alternative blockchain platform/protocol. In an illustrative embodiment, the controlled resource is a parking meter.

Abstract: The invention provides a computer-implemented method (and corresponding system) for generating a blockchain transaction (Tx). This may be a transaction for the Bitcoin blockchain or another blockchain protocol. The method comprises the step of using a software resource to receive, generate or otherwise derive at least one data item; and then insert, at least once, at least one portion of code into a script associated the transaction. Upon execution of the script, the portion of code provides the functionality of a control flow mechanism, the behaviour of the control flow mechanism being controlled or influenced by the at least one data item. In one embodiment, the code is copied/inserted into the script more than once. The control flow mechanism can be a loop, such as a while or for loop, or a selection control mechanism such as a switch statement. Thus, the invention allows the generation of a more complex blockchain script and controls how the script will execute when implemented on the blockchain.

Abstract: The invention provides a secure method for exchanging entities via a blockchain. The invention incorporates tokenisation techniques, and also techniques for embedding metadata in a redeem script of a blockchain transaction. Embodiment(s) provide a method of: generating a first script, the first script comprising: a first set of metadata associated with a first invitation for the exchange of a first entity by a first user, the first set of metadata comprising an indication of the first entity to be offered for exchange and a first location condition for the exchange, a first user public key (P1A) associated with the first user, wherein the first user public key (P1A) is part of an asymmetric cryptographic pair comprising the first user public key (P1A) and a first user private key (V1A).

Abstract: The invention relates to blockchain technologies such as the Bitcoin blockchain, and the tokenisation of assets or entities. It is particularly suited for implementing a payroll on a blockchain platform and comprises a method (100) and system (1) of transferring cryptocurrency from a first node (3) to a second node (7). Both nodes (3, 7) are associated with a payroll and have a respective asymmetric cryptography pair, each pair including a master private key and a master public key. Respective additional private and public keys may be determined based on the master private key, master public key and a generator value at each node. The additional private and public keys may form a hierarchical structure. A common secret may be determined at each of the nodes (3, 7) based on the additional private and public keys. The common secret may be used to securely transmit confidential information across a communications network (5).

Abstract: A computer-implemented method (600) and system (1) for verifying ownership of a computer software after installation and prior to execution using a distributed hash table (13) and a peer-to-peer distributed ledger (14). This may be the Bitcoin blockchain or an alternative implementation. The method includes determining (610) a second user public key associated with a second user (24) from a transaction record stored on the peer-to-peer distributed ledger (14). A second public key associated with the second user may be determined (620) from an entry on the distributed hash table (13). The method further includes comparing (630) the second user public key and the second public key, and verifying (640) the ownership of the computer software based on the comparing of the second user public key and the second public key.

Abstract: Methods and systems for registering identity of a mining node on a blockchain in a blockchain network. The methods may include creating a validity-check transaction having a first output controlled by the mining node and containing a miner identifier and propagating the validity-check transaction on the blockchain network. The methods may further include mining, by the mining node, a new block containing a generation transaction, wherein the generation transaction includes an information field that contains the miner identifier and a reference to the validity-check transaction. Another node may validate identity by receiving the miner identifier and the reference to the validity-check transaction, retrieving the validity-check transaction to confirm it contains the miner identifier, and determining that the first output is an unspent transaction output.

Abstract: Methods and system of recording work history of a mining node on a blockchain in a blockchain network. The methods may include mining a first block containing a registration generation transaction that includes, within a registration information field, a miner identifier for the mining node; and mining two or more additional blocks in an order, each additional block containing a generation transaction that includes an information field containing the miner identifier, a reference to the generation transaction of the preceding additional block in the order, wherein the registration generation transaction is a first block in the order. Work history may be verified by tracing the recorded work history and validating the miner identifier. Recorded work history may serve as the basis for a reputation score for the miner, which reflects contributed work evidenced by the proof-of-work secured work history.

Abstract: A blockchain network may be used to improve upon public-key infrastructure by providing for fast and secure registration, revocation and update of digital certificates. A public key may be recorded on the blockchain by a certificate authority in such a manner that any third party may quickly and easily verify that the public key is certified by the certificate authority and that the certification has not been revoked. The certificate authority may be able to revoke the certification nearly instantaneously, and/or may be able to simultaneously certify a new key for the same entity while revoking the old key. In some cases, the ability to revoke a certification may be given to the owner of the public key or, in some cases, to one or even a group of other entities.

Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods are detailed for establishing information on states of a machine executable contract, for instance in the context of unspent transactions (UTXOs), blockchain and deterministic finite automaton (DFA) implementation of contracts and the determination of states within those. The stages can include determining the information of interest and the codes or tags identifying that information, constructing the metadata associated with those codes or tags, combining that with a public key for an agent that will be associated with the information. The scriptPubKey values of each script may be used to provide the keys for use in constructing an external database and more specifically mapping the keys from the scriptPubKey values, linked to the information of interest. To obtain the other half of the combination, there is a derivation of the script hash addresses from the scriptPubKey values, with those being used to populate a digital wallet.

Abstract: The invention relates to computer-based, electronic ledgers, and in particular distributed ledgers known as “blockchains”. The invention is suited for use with the Bitcoin blockchain and associated protocol, but is not limited in this regard and can be deployed using other blockchain platforms. The invention provides a novel and advantageous technique for executing a micropayment channel in which the number of transactions (TXs) that need to be submitted to the blockchain can be greatly reduced. An initial transaction (Tx) can be replaced by one or more subsequent transactions which another party can hold onto until a selected transaction is completed (signed) and submitted to the network.

Abstract: A system and method for providing reputational information on users involved in transactions is detailed. The method includes evaluating fulfilment of transactions, particularly in the context of contracts, and providing a record of that on a blockchain through reputational information, which can be retrieved later. Similar reputational information for other transactions can be retrieved and linked to the same user, based on a hash of a master public key for a user. Aggregate reputational information can be computed from pieces of reputational information retrieved. The evaluation and record provision can be implemented using a deterministic finite automaton (DFA). For each user involved in each contract, the DFA not only configures and allows for implementation of the contract, but also considers the extent of fulfilment of the contract's terms. The DFA generates reputational information in relation to each user in each contract, and this reputational information is published to and stored on the blockchain.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and systems by which an agreed set of conditions governing transfers on a blockchain (e.g. the Bitcoin blockchain) can be generated and enforced. Advantageously, the conditions can be used to specify and influence the behaviour of another party who will be receiving the asset, by enforcing their fulfilment of an agreed set of rules. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises the step of providing, to a recipient, a representation of at least one rule (r) relating to a transfer to be conducted over a blockchain network. It also comprises the step of receiving, from a sender: a redeem script (R) which comprises the representation (r); and a script address comprising a hash (HR) of the redeem script (R). It also comprises the step of generating a hash (H) of the redeem script (R) and comparing it with the script address.