WO 2017/163090 A1 - Device, Method And System For A Distributed Ledger - The Lens

Device, Method And System For A Distributed Ledger

Published: Sep 28, 2017
Earliest Priority: Mar 24 2016
Family: 3
Cited Works: 1
Cited by: 0
Cites: 1
Additional Info: Full text

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for providing a node in a distributed ledger. The device includes a processor configured to match transactions; a communications apparatus configured to receive transactions from a plurality of devices each providing a node in the distributed ledger; a memory configured to store transactions in a transaction memory pool; and a casing configured to enclose, at least in part, the memory and the processor. At least part of, the device is modified into a non-functional state when the casing is compromised. A system for providing a distributed ledger and a method for providing a node for a distributed ledger are also disclosed.

Claims

A device for providing a node in a distributed ledger, including:
A processor configured to match transactions;
A communications apparatus configured to receive transactions from a plurality of devices each providing a node in the distributed ledger;
A memory configured to store transactions in a transaction memory pool; and
A casing configured to enclose, at least in part, the memory and the processor;
Wherein, at least part of, the device is modified into a nonfunctional state when the casing is compromised. 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least part of the memory is modified into a non-functional state when the casing is compromised.
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least part of the memory is modified such that data stored within the at least part of the memory is rendered inaccessible.
A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the transaction memory pool is rendered inaccessible. 5. A device as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 4, wherein the at least part of the memory is destroyed to render it inaccessible.
A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least part of the memory is destroyed via one or more of the following: voltage, heat, acid, cold, explosives, or mechanical force applied to the at least part of the memory. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the casing includes radio frequency shielding to inhibit detection of electrical activity within the casing outside the casing.
A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the memory is further configured to store one or more encryption keys and wherein the processor is further configured to decode transactions received from the plurality of devices using the one or more encryption keys.
A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the one or more encryption keys are rendered inaccessible.
A device as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 9, wherein the processor is further configured to encode transactions transmitted to the plurality of devices using the one or more encryption keys.
A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is further configured to receive transactions from a user of the device.
A device as claimed in claim 1 1 , wherein the device is further configured to validate the transactions received from the user.
A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 1 to 12, wherein the device is further configured to broadcast the transactions received from the user to each other node within the distributed ledger.
A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transactions comprise both bids and quotes for a trading market. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transactions comprise both bids and quotes for a plurality of trading markets.
A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the processor is configured to match the transactions in accordance with a deterministic matching algorithm.
A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the plurality of devices providing a node in the distributed ledger is a device as claimed in the above claim.
A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the processor is configured to group valid transactions into a block, to calculate a satisfactory hash for the block based upon a previous consensus block in a chain of blocks, to broadcast the block to the other nodes, and to use the longest chain of blocks to replace the consensus block.
A device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the processor matches transactions within the consensus block.
A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the distributed ledger is a blockchain.
A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein transactions within the memory pool are inaccessible to a user of the device until approval is received from a commit and reveal module executing at the device.
A device as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the commit and reveal module utilises a time delay calculated based upon network distances to other nodes.
A system for providing a distributed ledger, including:
A plurality of devices, each device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22; and
A communications system configured to enable each of the plurality of devices to communicate with one another.
A method for providing a node within a distributed ledger, including:
a) receiving transactions at a device;
b) storing the received transactions in a memory pool at the device; c) matching transactions at the device; and
d) rendering at least a part of the device non-functional when a casing of the device is compromised.
A method as claimed in claim 24, further including the step of
determining a consensus block of transactions.
A method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the transactions are matched within the consensus block.
A method as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 26, wherein the
consensus block is received at the device from one of a plurality of other devices.
A method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 27, wherein the device is a device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22.
A device for providing a node within a distributed ledger wherein at least a part of the device is modified into a non-functional state when the device is physically compromised. 30. A device or method for providing a node in a distributed ledger as herein described with reference to the Figures.
31 . A system for providing a distributed ledger as herein described with reference to the Figures.