Use of blockchain based distributed consensus control

• US 10,643,288 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TransActive Grid Inc.
• Original Assignee: TransActive Grid Inc.
• Inventors: Orsini, Lawrence, Wei, Yun, Lubin, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Goyea, Olusegun
• Application Number:
  US15/292,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20170103468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 705 64, 705 66, 705 69, 705 71, 705 39, 705 44, 705 68, 700276
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/00 Business processing using cryptography postage metering system using cryptography G06Q2250/05
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/003 for electricity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3239 involving non-keyed hash functions, e.g. modification detection codes [MDCs], MD5, SHA or RIPEMD
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/50 using hash chains, e.g. blockchains or hash trees
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 Wind power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/90 Financial instruments for climate change mitigation, e.g. environmental taxes, subsidies or financing

Abstract

A system for the cryptographically-secure, autonomous control of devices comprising, connected to or remotely operating devices in an electrically powered network and the transaction of the benefits, costs or value created by or transacted through the devices in this electrically powered network.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a network comprising a plurality of nodes, each node comprising at least one physical component and at least one control component, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is configured for token value generation, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is configured to transact tokens autonomously with every other node in the plurality of nodes;

wherein a node of the plurality of nodes generates a smart contract, the smart contract configured to;

receive settlement information from at least two nodes in the network;

validate a current state of a public ledger;

generate fulfillment information based on the received settlement information and at least in part on a physical distance between nodes; and

contribute to an updated state of the public ledger using the fulfillment information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fulfillment information identifies an exchange of at least one of benefits, goods, and services, for value.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes maintains at least a predetermined number of tokens, each token representing a value, and an external node is excluded from the network based on a number of tokens maintained by the external node.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each node is associated with a reputation value, the reputation value being included in the settlement information.

5. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by a self-executing contract, settlement information from at least two nodes in a network, the network comprising a plurality of nodes, each node comprising at least one physical component and at least one control component, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is configured for token value generation, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is configured to transact tokens autonomously with every other node in the plurality of nodes;

validating a current state of a public ledger;

generating fulfillment information based on the received settlement information and at least in part on a physical distance between nodes; and

contributing to an updated state of the public ledger using the fulfillment information.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the fulfillment information identifies an exchange of at least one of benefits, goods, and services, for value.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes maintains at least a predetermined number of tokens, each token representing a value, and an external node is excluded from the network based on a number of tokens maintained by the external node.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein each node is associated with a reputation value, the reputation value being included in the settlement information.

9. A non-transitory computer storage medium encoded with computer program instructions that when executed by one or more computers cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

receiving, by a self-executing contract, settlement information from at least two nodes in a network, the network comprising a plurality of nodes, each node comprising at least one physical component and at least one control component, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is configured for token value generation, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is configured to transact tokens autonomously with every other node in the plurality of nodes;

validating a current state of a public ledger;

generating fulfillment information based on the received settlement information and at least in part on a physical distance between nodes; and

contributing to an updated state of the public ledger using the fulfillment information.

10. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 9, wherein the fulfillment information identifies an exchange of at least one of benefits, goods, and services, for value.

11. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 9, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes maintains at least a predetermined number of tokens, each token representing a value, and an external node is excluded from the network based on a number of tokens maintained by the external node.

12. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 9, wherein each node is associated with a reputation value, the reputation value being included in the settlement information.