# US 2021/0279722 A1 · Systems and methods for securely filing documents via blockchain

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- Number: US 2021/0279722 A1
- Document ID: US20210279722A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/877,006
- Filed: 2018-01-22
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2017-01-25
- Assignees: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
- Applicants: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
- Inventors: Melinda Teresa Magerkurth; Eric Bellas; Jaime Skaggs; Shawn M. Call; Eric R. Moore; Vicki King; Burton J. Floyd; David Turrentine; Steven T. Olson; Timothy Caleb Wells; Corin Rebekah Chapman; Edward W. Breitweiser; Robert Gomez; Shelia Cummings Smith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210279722A1

## CPC

- G06F 21/6209: {to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself}
- G06F 21/602: {Providing cryptographic facilities or services}
- G06F 21/604: {Tools and structures for managing or administering access control systems}
- G06F 21/6245: {Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes}
- G06F 21/64: Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
- G06Q 20/10: specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
- G06Q 20/102: {Bill distribution or payments}
- G06Q 20/3825: {Use of electronic signatures}
- G06Q 20/3827: {Use of message hashing}
- G06Q 20/3829: {involving key management}
- G06Q 20/401: {Transaction verification}
- G06Q 20/4014: {Identity check for transactions}
- G06Q 40/08: Insurance
- H04L 9/0825: {using asymmetric-key encryption or public key infrastructure [PKI], e.g. key signature or public key certificates}
- H04L 9/0861: {Generation of secret information including derivation or calculation of cryptographic keys or passwords}
- H04L 9/0894: {Escrow, recovery or storing of secret information, e.g. secret key escrow or cryptographic key storage}
- H04L 9/14: using a plurality of keys or algorithms
- H04L 9/30: Public key, i.e. encryption algorithm being computationally infeasible to invert or user's encryption keys not requiring secrecy
- H04L 9/3236: {using cryptographic hash functions}
- H04L 9/3239: {involving non-keyed hash functions, e.g. modification detection codes [MDCs], MD5, SHA or RIPEMD}
- H04L 9/3247: {involving digital signatures}
- H04L 63/0428: {wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload}
- H04L 63/0442: {wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30)}
- H04L 63/061: {for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838)}
- H04L 63/10: {for controlling access to devices or network resources}
- H04L 63/102: {Entity profiles}
- H04L 63/126: {the source of the received data}
- H04L 63/18: {using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215)}
- H04L 67/104: Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
- G06Q 10/10: Office automation; Time management
- G06Q 20/223: {based on the use of peer-to-peer networks}
- G06Q 2220/00: Business processing using cryptography
- G06Q 2220/10: Usage protection of distributed data files
- H04L 9/50: {using hash chains, e.g. blockchains or hash trees}
- H04L 63/105: {Multiple levels of security}
- H04L 2209/56: Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

Methods and systems for managing and/or processing a blockchain to maintain data security for confidential and/or personal data are provided. According to certain aspects, the disclosed data security techniques may enable access sharing functionality utilizing the blockchain. For example, access sharing may be utilized to file documents with an agency. In some scenarios, the documents may be associated with unclaimed property. The documents may be associated with a smart contract. Accordingly, the document may be encrypted using a public key for the smart contract and compiled into a block of the blockchain. In response to a request to provide access to the document to a particular node, the private key for the smart contract may be encrypted using the public key for the particular node and compiled into a block of the blockchain.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer-implemented method of providing access to confidential data stored in a blockchain relating to a plurality of smart contracts and maintained by a plurality of nodes, the method comprising:
detecting, by one or more processors, that a new smart contract has been created;
generating, by the one or more processors, a public key and a private key for the new smart contract;
publishing, to the blockchain, the public key for the new smart contract such that two or more of the plurality of nodes can (i) access the public key for the new smart contract and (ii) encrypt data associated with the new smart contract using the public key of the smart contract, the data associated with the new smart contract including a document to be filed with an agency;
compiling, by the one or more processors, the data associated with the new smart contract into a first block of the blockchain;
distributing, by the one or more processors, the first block to the plurality of nodes to form a consensus on a first update to the blockchain;
detecting, by the one or more processors, a request to provide access to the data associated with the new smart contract to a particular node of the blockchain, the request indicating the particular node;
generating, by the one or more processors, a transaction indicating (i) the private key for the new smart contract, the private key for the new smart contract being encrypted in based upon the public key for the particular node, and (ii) the particular node;
compiling, by the one or more processors, the transaction into a second block of transactions; and
distributing, by the one or more processors, the second block to the plurality of nodes to form a consensus on a second update to the blockchain.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:
a portion of the plurality of smart contracts relate to a plurality of unclaimed property, and
the new smart contract relates to a particular unclaimed property.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein:
the data associated with the new smart contract indicates a jurisdiction associated with the particular unclaimed property, the jurisdiction corresponding to a filing deadline for reporting unclaimed property in the jurisdiction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein:
the new smart contract directs the generation of the request to provide the agency with access to the document to be filed with the agency based upon the filing deadline for reporting unclaimed property in the jurisdiction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein:
the data associated with the new smart contract indicates a last known address for a holder of the property.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein:
the new smart contract directs the sending of a notice to the last known address based upon the filing deadline for reporting unclaimed property in the jurisdiction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the document to be filed with the agency is an unclaimed property report.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein document to be filed with the agency is at least one of a policy form, an application form, or a rate change form.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein the agency is a government insurance agency.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein generating the transaction further comprises:
applying, by the one or more processors, a digital signature to the transaction, the digital signature being generated based upon the private key for a node associated with the one or more processors.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first block and the second block are the same block.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein generating the transaction comprises:
determining, by the one or more processors, a permission level associated with the particular node; and
generating, by the one or more processors, the transaction when the permission level indicates that the particular node is permitted to access the document to be filed with the agency.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein detecting the request to provide access to the data further comprises:
receiving, at the one or more processors, the request from a requesting node;
determining, by the one or more processors, a permission level associated with the requesting node; and
generating, by the one or more processors, the transaction when the permission level indicates that the requesting node is permitted to request that other nodes receive access to document to be filed with the agency.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein detecting the request to provide access to the data further comprises:
generating, by the one or more processors, the request to provide access to the data associated upon being directed by the new smart contract.

### Claim 15

A computer system for providing access to confidential data stored in a blockchain relating to a plurality of smart contracts and maintained by a plurality of nodes, the computer system comprising:
one or more processors;
a communication module adapted to communicate with the plurality of nodes;
a non-transitory program memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer system to:
detect that a new smart contract has been created;
generate a public key and a private key for the new smart contract;
publish, to the blockchain, the public key for the new smart contract such that two or more of the plurality of nodes can (i) access the public key for the new smart contract and (ii) encrypt data associated with the new smart contract using the public key of the smart contract, the data associated with the new smart contract including a document to be filed with an agency;
compile the data associated with the new smart contract into a first block of the blockchain;
distribute, via the communication module, the first block to a plurality of nodes to form a consensus on a first update to the blockchain;
detect a request to provide access to the data associated with the new smart contract to a particular node of the blockchain, the request indicating the particular node;
generate a transaction indicating (i) the private key for the new smart contract, the private key for the new smart contract being encrypted in based upon the public key for the particular node, and (ii) the particular node;
compile the transaction into a second block of transactions; and
distribute, via the communication module, the second block to the plurality of nodes to form a consensus on a second update to the blockchain.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The computer system of claim 15, wherein to generate the transaction, the instructions, when executed, cause the computer system to:
apply a digital signature to the transaction, the digital signature being generated based upon the private key for a node associated with the one or more processors.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The computer system of claim 15, wherein to generate the transaction, the instructions, when executed, cause the computer system to:
determine a permission level associated with the particular node; and
generate the transaction when the permission level indicates that the particular node is permitted to access the document to be filed with the agency.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The computer system of claim 15, wherein to detect the request to provide access to the data, the instructions, when executed, cause the computer system to:
receive the request from a requesting node;
determine a permission level associated with the requesting node; and
generate the transaction when the permission level indicates that the requesting node is permitted to request that other nodes receive access to document to be filed with the agency.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The computer system of claim 15, wherein to detect the request to provide access to the data, the instructions, when executed, cause the computer system to:
generate the request to provide access to the data associated upon being directed by the new smart contract.

### Claim 20

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions, that, when executed, cause one or more processors to:
detect that a new smart contract has been created;
generate a public key and a private key for the new smart contract;
publish, to the blockchain, the public key for the new smart contract such that two or more of the plurality of nodes can (i) access the public key for the new smart contract and (ii) encrypt data associated with the new smart contract using the public key of the smart contract, the data associated with the new smart contract including a document to be filed with an agency;
compile the data associated with the new smart contract into a first block of a blockchain;
distribute the first block to a plurality of nodes to form a consensus on a first update to the blockchain;
detect a request to provide access to the data associated with the new smart contract to a particular node of the blockchain, the request indicating the particular node;
generate a transaction indicating (i) the private key for the new smart contract, the private key for the new smart contract being encrypted in based upon the public key for the particular node, and (ii) the particular node;
compile the transaction into a second block of transactions; and
distribute the second block to the plurality of nodes to form a consensus on a second update to the blockchain.