Patent ID: 9595034
Date: 2017-03-14
CPC Classifications: G06F,G06Q,G09C,H04L

Claim:
1. A computer-implemented method of monitoring third party access to a restricted item, the method including the steps of: identifying, by a computing device, a publically visible transaction ledger, accessible via a website or other Internet-based platform, in which records of transactions conducted against cryptocurrency addresses, each of which having a balance of digital currency, become visible, the records being signed using a private key of a party transferring value and a public key associated with a receiving cryptocurrency address; identifying, by the computing device, a restricted item having embedded key data, wherein the key data is unique to the restricted item and to a particular cryptocurrency address and includes a private key or an address identifier derived at least partially from the private key, the key data usable to conduct a transaction with the particular cryptocurrency address; storing, by the computing device, the key data or data derived at least partially therefrom in a database; monitoring, by the computing device, the publically visible transaction ledger by extracting or otherwise obtaining information including one or more of private keys, public keys or cryptocurrency addresses from transaction records in the publically visible transaction ledger; determining, by the computing device, that a transaction against the particular cryptocurrency address has occurred by matching the extracted or otherwise obtained information with the key data stored in the database; and designating, by the computing device, the restricted item as accessed by a third party when the transaction against the particular cryptocurrency address has occurred.