ASSET MANAGEMENT IN ASSET-BASED BLOCKCHAIN SYSTEM

• US 20200134606A1
• Filed: 10/31/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2018
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Todd, Stephen J., Natanzon, Assaf
• Application Number:
  US16/176,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20200134606A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/065 using e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3676 Balancing accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/389 Keeping log of transactions for guaranteeing non-repudiation of a transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/00 Business processing using cryptography postage metering system using cryptography G06Q2250/05

Abstract

Techniques for improved asset management in an asset-based distributed ledger such as a blockchain system are disclosed. In one method, an asset balance structure is obtained, wherein the asset balance structure specifies asset balances, as of a given point in time, for a set of blockchain addresses associated with a blockchain system comprising blocks that reflect transactions associated with the assets. One or more transactions associated with the assets for any of the set of blockchain addresses that occur after generation of the asset balance structure are obtained. The one or more transactions associated with the assets that occur after generation of the asset balance structure are applied to the asset balance structure to generate an updated indication of the asset balances for the set of blockchain addresses. Advantageously, a given asset wallet stores the asset balance structure rather than the entire set of blocks of the blockchain system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining an asset balance structure, wherein the asset balance structure specifies asset balances, as of a given point in time, for a set of blockchain addresses associated with a blockchain system comprising blocks that reflect transactions associated with the assets;

obtaining one or more transactions associated with the assets for any of the set of blockchain addresses that occur after generation of the asset balance structure; and

applying the one or more transactions associated with the assets that occur after generation of the asset balance structure to the asset balance structure to generate an updated indication of the asset balances for the set of blockchain addresses;

wherein the steps are performed by at least one processing device comprising a processor and a memory.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of blockchain addresses correspond to asset wallets of users of the blockchain system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a given asset wallet stores the asset balance structure rather than the entire set of blocks of the blockchain system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the asset balance structure, when generated, comprises one or more outputs of transactions that do not serve as one or more inputs to any subsequent transactions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the asset balance structure is stored as a snapshot.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the asset balance structure is stored external to the blockchain system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of obtaining the asset balance structure further comprises downloading the asset balance structure from a storage system external to the blockchain system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the storage system external to the blockchain system comprises a cloud computing platform.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein a digital signature associated with the asset balance structure is stored on the blockchain system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the digital signature is used to verify the content of the asset balance structure.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the asset balance structure is initially generated at the given point in time from the historical blocks of the blockchain system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the asset balance structure is periodically generated.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the assets within the blockchain system comprise units of cryptocurrency.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the units of cryptocurrency comprise bitcoin units.

15. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored therein program code of one or more software programs, wherein the program code when executed by at least one processing device causes the processing device to perform steps of:

obtaining an asset balance structure, wherein the asset balance structure specifies asset balances, as of a given point in time, for a set of blockchain addresses associated with a blockchain system comprising blocks that reflect transactions associated with the assets;

obtaining one or more transactions associated with the assets for any of the set of blockchain addresses that occur after generation of the asset balance structure; and

applying the one or more transactions associated with the assets that occur after generation of the asset balance structure to the asset balance structure to generate an updated indication of the asset balances for the set of blockchain addresses.

16. An apparatus comprising at least one processing device, wherein the at least one processing device comprises a processor coupled to a memory as part of a node of a blockchain system, the node configured to:

obtain an asset balance structure, wherein the asset balance structure specifies asset balances, as of a given point in time, for a set of blockchain addresses associated with the blockchain system comprising blocks that reflect transactions associated with the assets;

obtain one or more transactions associated with the assets for any of the set of blockchain addresses that occur after generation of the asset balance structure; and

apply the one or more transactions associated with the assets that occur after generation of the asset balance structure to the asset balance structure to generate an updated indication of the asset balances for the set of blockchain addresses.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the set of blockchain addresses correspond to asset wallets of users of the blockchain system.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein a given asset wallet stores the asset balance structure rather than the entire set of blocks of the blockchain system.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the asset balance structure, when generated, comprises one or more outputs of transactions that do not serve as one or more inputs to any subsequent transactions.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the asset balance structure is stored as a snapshot.