VIRTUAL CURRENCY BANK

• US 20160140653A1
• Filed: 11/14/2014
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ryan Mckenzie
• Original Assignee: Ryan Mckenzie
• Inventors: McKenzie, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US14/541,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20160140653A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0658 e-cash managed locally
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3678 e-cash details, e.g. blinded, divisible or detecting double spending
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/082 Features insuring the integrity of the data on or in the card

Abstract

Described herein are embodiments of a virtual currency bank that includes a sealed container that includes an exterior surface and defines an interior, a QR code, located on the exterior associated with a public key that is tied to a virtual currency account, in that the QR code may be scanned to access the public key in order to add funds to the virtual currency account, and a private key, located in the interior of the sealed container and associated with the public key, in that the private key must be accessed and read to remove or spend funds from the virtual currency account. The sealed container is sealed in a manner so that the private key cannot be accessed without breaking the seal or the container in a manner that cannot be obscured or undone.

Claims

1. A virtual currency bank comprising:

a sealed container that includes an exterior surface and defines an interior;

a representation of a public key, located on the exterior surface, that is tied to a virtual currency account, wherein the public key is utilized to add funds to the virtual currency account; and

a private key, located in the interior of the sealed container and associated with the public key, wherein the private key must be accessed and read to remove or spend funds from the virtual currency account;

wherein the sealed container is sealed in a manner so that the private key cannot be accessed without breaking the seal or the container in a manner that cannot be obscured or undone.

2. The virtual currency bank of claim 1 wherein the sealed container includes material that prevents the private key from being scanned or otherwise read while located in the interior of the sealed container.

3. The virtual currency bank of claim 2 wherein the material includes lead or other metal contained within walls of the sealed container.

4. The virtual currency bank of claim 1 wherein the representation of the public key is a QR code.

5. The virtual currency bank of claim 1 wherein the representation of the public key is the public key.

6. The virtual currency bank of claim 1 wherein the private key is associated with additional public keys.

7. The virtual currency bank of claim 1 wherein the private key only permits removal or spending of funds from the virtual currency account.

8. The virtual currency bank of claim 1 wherein the sealed container is in the shape of a piggy bank.

9. The virtual currency bank of claim 1 wherein the sealed container is in the shape of a standard lock box.

10. The virtual currency bank of claim 1 wherein the sealed container is in the shape and size of flat credit card container.

11. The virtual currency bank of claim 1 wherein the private key is printed on a piece of paper.

12. The virtual currency bank of claim 1 wherein the private key is printed in a manner that prevents reading or scanning of the private key while located in the interior of the sealed container.

13. The virtual currency bank of claim 1 wherein the private key is one of multiple associated private keys wherein more than one of the multiple associated private keys, including the private key of the virtual currency bank must be accessed and read to remove or spend funds from the virtual currency account.

14. The virtual currency bank of claim 13 wherein there are three associated private keys and two of the three private keys, including the private key of the virtual currency bank, must be accessed and read to remove or spend funds from the virtual currency account.

15. The virtual currency bank of claim 1 wherein the private key is printed on an interior surface of the container.

16. The virtual currency bank of claim 1 wherein the private key also is necessary to access assets other than virtual currency.

17. The virtual currency bank of claim 16 wherein the other assets include one or more of the following:

real or other property, contracts, smart contracts, proof of existence, non-fungible assets, and digital assets.