Bilateral assertion model and ledger implementation thereof

• US 10,404,469 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2016
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (CME Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (CME Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Madhavan, Ajay, Liberman, Stanislav, Reddy, Kireeti
• Primary Examiner(s): Lynch, Sharon S
• Application Number:
  US15/166,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20170295023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/40 by quorum, i.e. whereby two or more security principals are required
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2107 File encryption
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2147 Locking files
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0655 e-cash managed centrally
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/00 Business processing using cryptography postage metering system using cryptography G06Q2250/05
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/50 using hash chains, e.g. blockchains or hash trees

Abstract

A computer implemented method for implementing a real time reconciling shared data structure is disclosed. The shared data structure may be stored in a memory, and a portion of the shared data structure may be coupled with a processor. The computer implemented method may be used for interacting with the shared data structure. The method may comprise the exchange of messages, requesting to change data in the shared data structure, between selected participants, wherein some of the participants must validate requested changes to the shared data. If all participants validate the requests to change data the changes to the data are made, and if less than all participants validate the requests then the changes are not made.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for facilitating interaction with a shared data structure, stored in a memory, by a plurality of participants, the method comprising:

receiving, by a processor via a network interface coupled with the processor, a first request data transaction message from a first participant of the plurality of participants, the first request data transaction message comprising data indicative of a request to modify data stored in the shared data structure, the shared data structure comprising a bilateral distributed ledger;

identifying, by the processor, based on the first request data transaction message, at least one other participant of the plurality of participants to validate modifications to the data;

generating, by the processor, a notification data transaction message for each of the identified at least one other participant, the notification data transaction message comprising data indicative of the request to modify the data;

transmitting, by the network interface via the processor, the generated notification data transaction message to each of the identified at least one other participant;

receiving, by the processor via the network interface responsive to the transmitted notification data transaction message, a validation data transaction message from each of the identified at least one other participant, each of the received validation data transaction messages comprising data indicative of a response to the notification data transaction message;

determining, by the processor, based on the received validation data transaction messages, whether all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request to modify the data, and, based thereon, when all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request to modify the data;

generating, by the processor, a confirmation data transaction message;

transmitting, by the processor via the network interface, the confirmation data transaction message to the first participant; and

modifying, by the processor, the data stored in the memory in the shared data structure according to the request to modify the data; and

when less than all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request;

generating, by the processor, a rejection data transaction message;

transmitting, by the processor via the network interface, the rejection data transaction message to the first participant; and

not modifying, by the processor, the data stored in the memory in the shared data structure according to the request to modify the data;

receiving, by the processor via the network interface, a data transaction request message comprising a second request data transaction message from a second participant of the plurality of participants comprising data indicative of a request by the second participant to modify data stored in the portion of the shared data structure, wherein the portion of the shared data structure comprises a sub-data structure for separately storing data indicative of transactions between each permutation of the second participant and others from the plurality of participants, wherein each of the transactions is linked to the other; and

when the data transaction message comprises a second request data transaction message;

identifying, by the processor, based on the second request data transaction message, at least one other participant of the plurality of participants to validate modifications to the data, and based thereon modifying the portion of the shared data structure to indicate validation is pending;

generating, by the processor, a notification data transaction message for each identified at least one other participant, the notification data transaction message comprising data indicative of the request to modify the data in the portion of the shared data structure;

transmitting, by the network interface coupled with the processor, each of the generated notification data transaction messages to the associated one of the identified at least one other participant;

receiving, by the processor via the network interface responsive to the notification data transaction messages, a validation data transaction message from each of the identified at least one other participant, each of the received validation data transaction messages comprising data indicative of a response to the request to modify data stored in the portion of the shared data structure;

determining, by the processor, based on the received validation data transaction messages, whether all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request to modify the data in the portion of the shared data structure, and based thereon, when all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request to modify the data in the portion of the shared data structure;

generating, by the processor, a response data transaction message for each of the identified at least one other participant comprising data indicative of a confirmation of the modification to the data in the portion of the shared data structure;

transmitting, by the network interface via the processor, the response data transaction message to each of the identified at least one other participant;

modifying, in the memory via the processor, the data stored in the portion of the shared data structure according to the request to modify the data; and

when less than all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request;

generating, by the processor, a response data transaction message for each of the identified at least one other participant comprising data indicative that the data in the portion of the shared data structure has not been modified;

not modifying, in the memory via the processor, the data stored in the portion of the shared data structure according to the request to modify the data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a portion of the shared data structure is coupled with the processor, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the processor via the network interface, a data transaction message from a second participant of the plurality of participants comprising a notification data transaction message comprising data indicative that a request has been made to modify data stored in another portion of the shared data structure, and

when the data transaction message comprises a notification data transaction message;

validating, by the processor, based on the notification data transaction message, the request to modify data stored in the other portion of shared data structure, and based thereon modifying the portion of the shared data structure to indicate the request to modify the data in the other portion of the shared data structure and the validation thereof;

generating, by the processor, a validation data transaction message comprising data indicative of a response, based on the validation, to the request to modify data stored in the other portion of the shared data structure;

transmitting, by the network interface coupled with the processor, the validation data transaction message to the second participant;

receiving, by the processor via the network interface, a response data transaction message from the second participant, the response data transaction message comprising data indicative of a confirmation of receipt by the second participant of the validation transaction message, and determining, by the processor, whether the received response data transaction message comprises data indicative of a confirmation that the data in the other portion of the shared data structure has been modified or not, and modifying, by the processor, based on the received response data transaction message, the portion of the shared data structure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data indicative of the request to modify data stored in the portion of the shared data structure further includes data which identifies the at least one other participant to validate the request.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data, to be modified, stored in the portion of the shared data structure further includes data which identifies the at least one other participant to validate the request.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating of the notification data transaction message further comprises augmenting the generated notification data transaction message with data indicative of the cryptographic signature of the second participant.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second participant uses a public key signing protocol to sign the notification data transaction message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating of the validation data transaction message further comprises augmenting the generated validation data transaction message with data indicative of the cryptographic signature of the second participant.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second participant uses a public key signing protocol to sign the validation data transaction message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the request to modify data stored in the portion of the shared data structure comprises a request to add new data to the portion of the shared data structure or a request to modify data previously stored in the portion of the shared data structure.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the data to be added comprises one or more assertions of fact by the second participant.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating, by the processor, a recovery data transaction message comprising data indicative of the second participant'"'"'s identity, and a request for data stored at each of the at least one other participants corresponding to the second participant to be transmitted to the second participant;

transmitting, by the network interface, the recovery data transaction message to each of the at least one other participants;

receiving, by the processor, a response to the recovery data transaction message, wherein the response includes data corresponding to the request for data; and

storing, by the processor in the memory, the data received in the response to the recovery data transaction message.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the processor, a recovery data transaction message comprising data indicative of at least one other participant'"'"'s identity, and a request for data stored in the second participant'"'"'s portion of the shared data structure corresponding to the at least one other participant to be transmitted to the at least one other participant;

searching, by the processor, for data corresponding to the request, in the portion of the shared data structure; and

transmitting a response to the recovery data transaction message to the requesting at least one other participant including data indicative of the results of the search.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the second request data transaction message is received from the second participant via a user interface coupled with the processor.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification data transaction message further comprises an expiration time by which a response thereto must be received, wherein a failure to receive a response by the expiration time is indicative of a rejection or an acceptance.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the validation data transaction message further comprises an expiration time by which a response thereto must be received, and wherein a failure to receive a response by the expiration time is indicative of a rejection or an acceptance.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, by the processor, the notification data transaction message to business logic coupled with the processor and operative to determine whether the request is valid.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting, by the processor via a user interface coupled therewith, the notification data transaction message to a user for validation and receiving, via the user interface, a response thereto.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing, prior to the receiving of any validation data transaction messages, data indicative of a request to modify data stored in the shared data structure in a portion of the shared data structure accessible only to the first participant and the identified at least one other participant, and further storing, upon receipt of each validation data transaction message, data indicative thereof in the portion of the shared data structure, the modifying of the data stored in the memory in the shared data structure comprising storing data indicative of the confirmation in the portion of the shared data structure, and the modifying of the data stored in the memory in the shared data structure comprising storing data indicative of a rejection of the request to modify in the portion of the shared data structure.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the portion of shared data structure is replicated only among the first participant and the identified at least one other participant, the remainder of the plurality of participants not having access thereto.

20. A system for facilitating interaction with a shared data structure, stored in a memory, by a plurality of participants, the system comprising:

a transaction receiver, coupled with a network interface, operative to receive a first request data transaction message from a first participant of the plurality of participants, the first request data transaction message comprising data indicative of a request to modify data stored in the shared data structure, the shared data structure comprising a bilateral distributed ledger;

an identification processor, coupled with the transaction receiver, operative to identify based on the first request data transaction message, at least one other participant of the plurality of participants to validate modifications to the data;

a message generator, coupled to the identification processor, operative to generate a notification data transaction message for each of the identified at least one other participant, the notification data transaction message comprising data indicative of the request to modify the data;

a message transmitter, coupled to the message generator, operative to transmit the generated notification data transaction message to each one of the identified at least one other participant;

the transaction receiver further operative to receive, responsive to the transmitted notification data transaction message, a validation data transaction message from each of the identified at least one other participant, each of the received validation data transaction messages comprising data indicative of a response to the notification data transaction message;

a validation determiner, coupled to the transaction receiver, operative to determine based on the received validation data transaction messages, whether all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request to modify the data, and, based thereon;

the message generator further operative to, wherein when all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request to modify the data, generate a confirmation data transaction message;

the message transmitter further operative to transmit the confirmation data transaction message to the first participant; and

a data modifier, coupled with the validation determiner, operative to modify the data stored in the memory in the shared data structure according to the request to modify the data;

the message generator further operative to, wherein when less than all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request, generate a rejection data transaction message;

the message transmitter further operative to transmit the rejection data transaction message to the first participant; and

the data modifier further operative to not modify the data stored in the memory in the shared data structure according to the request to modify the data;

the transaction receiver is further coupled with a portion of the shared data structure and operative to receive a data transaction request message comprising a second request data transaction message from a second participant of the plurality of participants comprising data indicative of a request by the second participant to modify data stored in the portion of the shared data structure, wherein the portion of the shared data structure comprises a sub-data structure for separately storing data indicative of transactions between each permutation of the second participant and others of the plurality of participants, wherein the sub-data structure for each combination includes data indicative of at least one transaction there between, each of which is linked to the other;

the identification processor is further operative to, wherein the data transaction message comprises a second request data transaction message, based on the second request data transaction message, identify at least one other participant of the plurality of participants to validate modifications to the data, and a data modifier, coupled to the identification processor, operative to, based on the second request data transaction message, modify the portion of the shared data structure to indicate validation is pending;

the message generator is further operative to generate a notification data transaction message for each identified at least one other participant, the notification data transaction message comprising data indicative of the request to modify the data in the portion of the shared data structure;

the message transmitter is further operative to transmit each of the generated notification data transaction messages to the associated one of the identified at least one other participant;

the transaction receiver further operative to receive, responsive to the notification data transaction messages, a validation data transaction message from each of the identified at least one other participant, each of the received validation data transaction messages comprising data indicative of a response to the request to modify data stored in the portion of the shared data structure;

the validation determiner is further operative to, based on the received validation data transaction messages, validate whether all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request to modify the data in the portion of the shared data structure, and based thereon;

the message generator being further operative to, wherein when all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request to modify the data in the portion of the shared data structure, generate a response data transaction message for each of the identified at least one other participant comprising data indicative of a confirmation of the modification to the data in the portion of the shared data structure;

the message transmitter being further operative to transmit the response data transaction message to each of the identified at least one other participant;

the data modifier further operative to modify the data stored in the portion of the shared data structure according to the request to modify the data; and

the message generator further operative to, wherein when less than all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request, generate a response data transaction message for each of the identified at least one other participants comprising data indicative that the data in the portion of the shared data structure has not been modified;

the message transmitter further operative to transmit the response data transaction message to each of the identified at least one other participant;

the data modifier further operative to not modify the data stored in the portion of the shared data structure according to the request to modify the data.

21. The system of claim 20, the system wherein:

the transaction receiver is further coupled with a portion of the shared data structure and operative to receive a data transaction message from a second participant of the plurality of participants comprising a notification data transaction message comprising data indicative that a request has been made to modify data stored in another portion of the shared data structure;

the validation determiner further operative to, wherein the data transaction message comprises a notification data transaction message, validate, based on the notification data transaction message, the request to modify data stored in the other portion of shared data structure, and based thereon modifying the portion of the shared data structure to indicate the request to modify the data in the other portion of the shared data structure and the validation thereof;

the message generator further operative to generate a validation data transaction message comprising data indicative of a response, based on the validation, to the request to modify data stored in the other portion of the shared data structure;

the message transmitter further operative to transmit the validation data transaction message to the second participant;

the transaction receiver further operative to receive a response data transaction message from the second participant, the response data transaction message comprising data indicative of a confirmation of receipt by the second participant of the validation transaction message, and determining whether the received response data transaction message comprises data indicative of a confirmation that the data in the other portion of the shared data structure has been modified or not, the data modifier further operative to modify, based on the confirmation data transaction message, the portion of the shared data structure.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the data indicative of the request to modify data stored in the portion of the shared data structure further includes data which identifies the at least one other participant to validate the request.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the data, to be modified, stored in the portion of the shared data structure further includes data which identifies the at least one other participant to validate the request.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the generating of the notification data transaction message further comprises augmenting the generated notification data transaction message with data indicative of the cryptographic signature of the second participant.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the second participant uses a public key signing protocol to sign the notification data transaction message.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the generating of the validation data transaction message further comprises augmenting the generated validation data transaction message with data indicative of the cryptographic signature of the second participant.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the second participant uses a public key signing protocol to sign the validation data transaction message.

28. The system of claim 20, wherein the request to modify data stored in the portion of the shared data structure comprises a request to add new data to the portion of the shared data structure or a request to modify data previously stored in the portion of the shared data structure.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the data to be added comprises one or more assertions of fact by the second participant.

30. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

the message generator further operative to generate a recovery data transaction message comprising data indicative of the second participant'"'"'s identity, and a request for data stored at each of the at least one other participants corresponding to the second participant'"'"'s identity to be transmitted to the second participant;

the message transmitter further operative to transmit the recovery data transaction message to each of the at least one other participants; and

the transaction receiver further operative to receive a response to the recovery data transaction message.

31. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

the transaction receiver further operative to receive a recovery data transaction message comprising data indicative of at least one other participant'"'"'s identity, and a request for data stored in the second participant'"'"'s portion of the shared data structure corresponding to the at least one other participant to be transmitted to the second participant;

the data modifier further operative to search for data corresponding to the request in the portion of the shared data structure; and

the message transmitter further operative to transmit a response to the recovery data transaction message to the requesting at least one other participant including data indicative of the results of the search.

32. The system of claim 20, wherein the second request data transaction message is received from the second participant via a user interface coupled with the processor.

33. The system of claim 20, wherein the notification data transaction message further comprises an expiration time by which a response thereto must be received, wherein a failure to receive a response by the expiration time is indicative of a rejection or an acceptance.

34. The system of claim 20, wherein the validation data transaction message further comprises an expiration time by which a response thereto must be received, and wherein a failure to receive a response by the expiration time is indicative of a rejection or an acceptance.

35. The system of claim 20, wherein the validation determiner is further operative to present the notification data transaction message to business logic coupled with the processor, wherein the business logic determines whether the request is valid.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the validation determiner is further operative to present the notification data transaction message to a user for validation and receiving, via the user interface, a response thereto.

37. The system of claim 20 wherein the data modifier is further operative to store, prior to the receiving of any validation data transaction messages, data indicative of a request to modify data stored in the shared data structure in a portion of the shared data structure accessible only to the first participant and the identified at least one other participant, and further storing, upon receipt of each validation data transaction message, data indicative thereof in the portion of the shared data structure, the modifying of the data stored in the memory in the shared data structure comprising storing data indicative of the confirmation in the portion of the shared data structure, and the modifying of the data stored in the memory in the shared data structure comprising storing data indicative of a rejection of the request to modify in the portion of the shared data structure.

38. The system of claim 20 wherein the portion of shared data structure is replicated only among the first participant and the identified at least one other participant, the remainder of the plurality of participants not having access thereto.

39. A system for facilitating interaction with a shared data structure, stored in a memory, by a plurality of participants, the system comprising:

a first logic component stored in the memory and executable by a processor coupled therewith and coupled to a network interface, to cause the processor to receive a first request data transaction message from a first participant of the plurality of participants, the first request data transaction message comprising data indicative of a request to modify data stored in the shared data structure, the shared data structure comprising a bilateral distributed ledger;

a second logic component, coupled with the first logic component, stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the processor to identify based on the first request data transaction message, at least one other participant of the plurality of participants to validate modifications to the data;

a third logic component, coupled to the second logic component, stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the processor to generate a notification data transaction message for each of the identified at least one other participant, the notification data transaction message comprising data indicative of the request to modify the data;

a fourth logic component, coupled to the third logic component, stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the processor to transmit the generated notification data transaction messages to each of the identified at least one other participant;

the first logic component further executable by the processor to cause the processor to receive, responsive to the notification data transaction message, a validation data transaction message from each of the identified at least one other participant, each of the received validation data transaction messages comprising data indicative of a response to the notification data transaction message;

a fifth logic component, coupled to the first logic component, stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the processor to determine based on the received validation data transaction messages, whether all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request to modify the data, and, based thereon;

the third logic component further executable by the processor to cause the processor to, wherein when all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request to modify the data, generate a confirmation data transaction message;

the fourth logic component further executable by the processor to cause the processor to transmit the confirmation data transaction message to the first participant; and

a sixth logic component, coupled with the fifth logic component, stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the processor to modify the data stored in the memory in the shared data structure according to the request to modify the data;

the third logic component further executable by the processor to cause the processor to, wherein when less than all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request, generate a rejection data transaction message;

the fourth logic component further executable by the processor to cause the processor to transmit the rejection data transaction message to the first participant; and

the sixth logic component further executable by the processor to cause the processor to not modify the data stored in the memory in the shared data structure according to the request to modify the data;

wherein the first logic component is further coupled with a portion of the data structure and executable by the processor to cause the processor to receive a data transaction message from a second participant of the plurality of participants comprising a second request data transaction message comprising data indicative of a request by the second participant to modify data stored in the portion of the shared data structure, wherein the portion of the shared data structure comprises a sub-data structure for separately storing data indicative of transactions between each permutation of the second participant and others from the plurality of participants, wherein each of the transactions is linked to the other;

the second logic component executable by the processor to cause the processor to, wherein the data transaction message comprises a second request data transaction message, based on the second request data transaction message, identify at least one other participant of the plurality of participants to validate modifications to the data, and a third logic component, coupled to the second logic component, operative to, based on the second request data transaction message, modify the portion of the shared data structure to indicate validation is pending;

the fourth logic component is further coupled with the second logic component and executable by the processor to cause the processor to generate a notification data transaction message for each identified at least one other participant, the notification data transaction message comprising data indicative of the request to modify the data in the portion of the shared data structure;

the fifth logic component is further coupled with the fourth logic component and executable by the processor to cause the processor to transmit the generated notification data transaction messages to the associated one of the identified at least one other participant;

the first logic component further executable by the processor to cause the processor to receive, responsive to the notification data transaction messages, a validation data transaction message from each of the identified at least one other participant, each of the received validation data transaction messages comprising data indicative of a response to the request to modify data stored in the portion of the shared data structure;

the sixth logic component is further coupled with the first logic component and fourth logic component and executable by the processor to cause the processor to, based on the received validation data transaction messages, validate whether all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request to modify the data in the portion of the shared data structure, and based thereon;

the fourth logic component being further executable by the processor to cause the processor to, wherein when all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request to modify the data in the portion of the shared data structure, generate a response data transaction message for each of the identified at least one other participant comprising data indicative of a confirmation of the modification to the data in the portion of the shared data structure;

the fifth logic component being further executable by the processor to cause the processor to transmit the response data transaction message to each of the identified at least one other participant;

the third logic component, coupled with the sixth logic component, executable by the processor to cause the processor to modify the data stored in the portion of the shared data structure according to the request to modify the data; and

the fourth logic component further executable by the processor to cause the processor to, wherein when less than all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request, generate a response data transaction message for each of the identified at least one other participant comprising data indicative that the data in the portion of the shared data structure has not been modified;

the fifth logic component further executable by the processor to cause the processor to transmit the response data transaction message to each of the identified at least one other participant;

the third logic component further executable by the processor to cause the processor to not modify the data stored in the portion of the shared data structure according to the request to modify the data.

40. The system of claim 39, the system further wherein the first logic component is further coupled with a portion of the data structure and executable by the processor to cause the processor to receive a data transaction message from a second participant of the plurality of participants comprising a notification data transaction message comprising data indicative that a request has been made to modify data stored in another portion of the shared data structure;

the sixth logic component further executable by the processor to cause the processor to, wherein the data transaction message comprises a notification data transaction message, validate, based on the notification data transaction message, the request to modify data stored in the other portion of shared data structure, and based thereon modifying the portion of the shared data structure to indicate the request to modify the data in the other portion of the shared data structure and the validation thereof;

the fourth logic component further executable by the processor to cause the processor to generate a validation data transaction message comprising data indicative of a response, based on the validation, to the request to modify data stored in the other portion of the shared data structure;

the fifth logic component further executable by the processor to cause the processor to transmit the validation data transaction message to the second participant;

the first logic component further executable by the processor to cause the processor to receive a response data transaction message from the second participant, the response data transaction message comprising data indicative of a confirmation of receipt by the second participant of the validation transaction message, and determining whether the received response data transaction message comprises data indicative of a confirmation that the data in the other portion of the shared data structure has been modified or not, the third logic component further operative to modify, based on the confirmation data transaction message, the portion of the shared data structure.

41. A system for facilitating interaction with a shared data structure, stored in a memory, by a plurality of participants, the system comprising:

means for receiving a request data transaction message from a first participant of the plurality of participants, the request data transaction message comprising data indicative of a request to modify data stored in the shared data structure, the shared data structure comprising a bilateral distributed ledger;

means for identifying based on the request data transaction message, at least one other participant of the plurality of participants to validate modifications to the data;

means for generating a notification data transaction message for each of the identified at least one other participant, the notification data transaction message comprising data indicative of the request to modify the data;

means for transmitting the generated notification data transaction messages to each of the identified at least one other participant;

means for receiving a validation data transaction message from each of the identified at least one other participant, each of the received validation data transaction messages comprising data indicative of a response to the notification data transaction message;

means for determining based on the received validation data transaction messages, whether all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request to modify the data, and, based thereon, when all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request to modify the data;

means for generating a confirmation data transaction message;

means for transmitting the confirmation data transaction message to the first participant; and

means for modifying the data stored in the memory in the shared data structure according to the request to modify the data; and

when less than all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request;

means for generating a rejection data transaction message;

means for transmitting the rejection data transaction message to the first participant; and

means for not modifying the data stored in the memory in the shared data structure according to the request to modify the data;

means for receiving a data transaction request message comprising a second request data transaction message from a second participant of the plurality of participants comprising data indicative of a request by the second participant to modify data stored in the portion of the shared data structure, wherein the portion of the shared data structure comprises a sub-data structure for separately storing data indicative of transactions between each permutation of the second participant and others from the plurality of participants, wherein each of the transactions is linked to the other; and

when the data transaction message comprises a second request data transaction message;

means for identifying based on the second request data transaction message, at least one other participant of the plurality of participants to validate modifications to the data, and based thereon modifying the portion of the shared data structure to indicate validation is pending;

means for generating a notification data transaction message for each identified at least one other participant, the notification data transaction message comprising data indicative of the request to modify the data in the portion of the shared data structure;

means for transmitting each of the generated notification data transaction messages to the associated one of the identified at least one other participant;

means for receiving, responsive to the notification data transaction messages, a validation data transaction message from each of the identified at least one other participant, each of the received validation data transaction messages comprising data indicative of a response to the request to modify data stored in the portion of the shared data structure;

means for determining based on the received validation data transaction messages, whether all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request to modify the data in the portion of the shared data structure, and based thereon, when all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request to modify the data in the portion of the shared data structure;

means for generating a response data transaction message for each of the identified at least one other participant comprising data indicative of a confirmation of the modification to the data in the portion of the shared data structure;

means for transmitting the response data transaction message to each of the identified at least one other participant;

means for modifying, in the memory, the data stored in the portion of the shared data structure according to the request to modify the data; and

when less than all of the identified at least one other participant have validated the request;

means for generating a response data transaction message for each of the identified at least one other participant comprising data indicative that the data in the portion of the shared data structure has not been modified;

means for not modifying, in the memory, the data stored in the portion of the shared data structure according to the request to modify the data.