Digital contracts in blockchain environments
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Publication Number
US-11531981-B2
Publication Date
2022-12-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
Digital or “smart” contracts execute in a blockchain environment. Any entity (whether public or private) may specify a digital contract via a contract identifier in a blockchain. Because there may be many digital contracts offered as services, the contract identifier uniquely identifies a particular digital contract offered by a vendor or supplier. The blockchain is thus not burdened with the programming code that is required to execute the digital contract. The blockchain need only include or specify the contract identifier (and perhaps one or more contractual parameters), thus greatly simplifying the blockchain and reducing its size (in bytes) and processing requirements.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a blockchain-based digital contract system in which a blockchain specifies a contract identifier that uniquely identifies a digital contract. The blockchain is described as a private blockchain and includes only a contract identifier and optional contractual parameters, rather than contract programming code for executing the digital contract, thereby reducing processing to handling the contract identifier and the contractual parameters associated with outsourced execution.
A contract/data-layer server receives the private blockchain and inspects the contract identifier and contractual parameters. The server queries an electronic database of contracts to electronically associate network resources with contract identifiers, including the contract identifier specified by the blockchain, identifies a network resource associated with the contract identifier, and sends a service request to that network resource requesting a service associated with the digital contract.
The system generates execution data records in a blockchain data layer that document sending the service request. The blockchain data layer generates a cryptographic proof based on hashing of the data record, including Merkle tree structure, Merkle root, Merkle proof, and hierarchical hashing, and the cryptographic proof may be optionally published to a public blockchain.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent claims: device, method, and system. Across these independent claims, there are four main inventive features.
Private blockchain specifying a contract identifier without programming code
Receiving a private blockchain, or a blockchain, that lacks programming code for executing a digital contract and specifies a contract identifier that uniquely identifies the digital contract, with processing reduced to only specifying a contract parameter and the contract identifier for outsourced execution.
Electronic database mapping contract identifiers to network resources
Querying an electronic database for the contract identifier specified by the blockchain and electronically associating network resources to the contract identifiers, including identifying a network resource associated with the contract identifier.
Outsourced execution via service request to the associated network resource
Sending a service request to the network resource that is electronically associated with the contract identifier specified by the blockchain, the service request requesting a service associated with the digital contract and specifying the contract parameter for outsourced execution.
Blockchain data layer record and cryptographic proof by hashing
Generating a data record in a blockchain data layer that documents sending the service request and generating a cryptographic proof based on hashing of the data record in the blockchain data layer.
Each independent claim requires receiving a blockchain that lacks contract programming code, using an electronic database to associate a contract identifier to a network resource, sending a service request for outsourced execution with contract parameter(s), and recording that sending in a blockchain data layer while generating a cryptographic proof based on hashing of the data record.
Stated Advantages
Reducing a blockchain’s byte size by having the blockchain lack programming code and only specify a contract parameter and a contract identifier for outsourced execution.
Reducing processing of a hardware processor by only specifying a contract parameter and a contract identifier for an outsourced execution.
Documented Applications
Outsourced execution of a digital contract by identifying an associated network resource from an electronic database and sending a service request requesting execution based on a contract identifier and contract parameter.
Use of blockchain data layer cryptographic proofs, including optional publication to a public blockchain, for documenting the sending of the service request.
Reducing a blockchain’s byte size by providing a blockchain that lacks programming code for executing a digital contract.
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