CLOUD SERVER AND METHOD FOR APPLICATION LAYER-INDEPENDENT ACCELERATED TRIGGERING OF EVENTS IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK

A cloud server obtains a defined signature from a first communication device, where the defined signature is associated with a digital asset at the first communication device. The cloud server validates the defined signature based on a search of the defined signature in a main action database in the cloud server. The cloud server determines that a copyright check is required for the digital asset associated with the defined signature. The cloud server determines an occurrence of copyright violation for digital asset based on resemblance search of the digital asset in copyright database. The cloud server interrupts data packets of the digital asset from being consumed at the first communication device based on the occurrence of copyright violation determined for the digital asset. The interruption of the data packets is executed at one or more layers different from an application layer of a network architecture at the first communication device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY

REFERENCE

Field of Technology

Certain embodiments of the disclosure relate to a communication, verification, and security system. More specifically, certain embodiments of the disclosure relate to a cloud server and a method for application layer-independent accelerated triggering of events in a communication network.

BACKGROUND

Every layer of a network architecture used for communication has its own unique function. In one example, the Open System Interconnection (OSI) model defines the networking framework (i.e., the hierarchical network architecture) for implementing protocols in seven layers, namely the application layer, the presentation layer, the session layer, the transport layer, the network layer, the data link layer, and the physical layer, where the application layer is considered the topmost layer and the physical layer is considered the bottom layer. Typically, at a given communication device, control is passed from one layer to the next, starting at the application layer (i.e., the human-computer interaction layer, for example, for transmission of user data) and proceeding up to the bottom layer, i.e., the physical layer. The physical layer is responsible for the transmission of raw data, which is simply a series of 0s and 1s, i.e., a raw bit stream, over a communication medium in the form of electrical impulse, light, or radio signal to another communication device, in which data signal received from physical layer moves up the hierarchical network architecture to the application layer to finally present the user data received in meaningful form (i.e., passes back up the hierarchy). The application layer supports application and end-user processes. In other words, the application layer is used by end-user software, such as web browsers and email clients. It provides protocols that allow the software to send and receive information and present meaningful data to users. A few examples of application layer protocols are the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Post Office Protocol (POP), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), and Domain Name System (DNS). The application layer is the most open-ended of all of the layers being the topmost layer, and the open-ended nature of the application layer is known to present threats. In one example, applications with weak or no authentication may be prime targets for unauthorized use and abuse over a network. In another example, software programs may have backdoors or shortcuts that bypass otherwise secure controls and provide unauthorized access.

In certain scenarios, it may be difficult to track every usage of a digital asset owned by a user after the digital asset is created. For example, the digital asset may be distributed or re-distributed multiple times across a single digital platform or across different digital platforms, and different applications may be used by various end-users to consume the digital asset. For instance, the non-fungible tokens (NFTs) concept is gaining popularity where any unique digital asset, for example, an image, video, audio, art, etc., can be tokenized as NFT. Consequently, several NFT marketplaces (NFTMs), have emerged in recent years to facilitate buying and selling NFTs with crypto payment, where the digital asset ownership transfer may happen in a single transaction and be recorded in a blockchain. Currently, the application layer controls any triggering of events, such as a blockchain event, an event associated with a smart contract, an event associated with a fungible token (e.g., a cryptocurrency), or an event associated with a non-fungible token (NFT), and the like. This creates a technical vulnerability in tracking of each and every usage of the digital asset or a digital service. Furthermore, legitimacy is one of the prominent issues with NFTs, as current technology do not prevent an impostor from tokenizing and selling someone else's piece of art (i.e., a digital asset), while the creator remains oblivious of the fraud.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A cloud server and a method for application layer-independent accelerated triggering of events in a communication network, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Certain embodiments of the disclosure may be found in a cloud server and a method for application layer-independent accelerated triggering of events in a communication network. The cloud server, communication device, the method of the present disclosure significantly reduces the latency and vulnerability involved in application-layer based processing and triggering of events by making the triggering mechanism be executed at the lowest digitalized layer (e.g., the datalink layer) of a network architecture (e.g., OSI network architecture). In other words, the cloud server, the communication device, and the method of the present disclosure enables application layer-independent accelerated triggering of events in the communication network (e.g., a blockchain event, an event associated with a smart contract, an event associated with a fungible token (e.g., a cryptocurrency), or an event associated with a non-fungible token (NFT) may be triggered at the datalink layer in an example. This improves the reliability and accuracy of tracking each user consumption of a digital asset on a device, such as the communication device while reducing the known vulnerabilities of the application layer. The cloud server, the communication device and the method of the present disclosure provides an ecosystem to track any usage of a digital asset even if the digital asset is distributed or re-distributed multiple times across a single digital platform or across different digital platforms.

Furthermore, legitimacy is one of the prominent issues with NFTs, as current technology do not prevent an impostor from “tokenizing” and selling someone else's piece of art (i.e., a digital asset), while the creator remains oblivious of the fraud. Mostly, with current technological systems and framework, the onus of verifying the token is on a user who becomes involved with any activity, such as using an online platform to buy an NFT. Unfortunately, this is not always easy and counterfeits NFTs, also called copycats or parody projects, are mushrooming. The cloud server, the communication devices, and the method of the present disclosure provides the ecosystem where significant technological improvement is achieved to prevent or at least minimize the legitimacy issue to a great extent. The cloud server determines whether a copyright check is required for any given digital asset and accurately determines an occurrence of a copyright violation for the digital asset. In such a case, the cloud server immediately (i.e., in real time or near real time) interrupts the data packets from being consumed (i.e., being played or communicated) to any unauthorized user or device at wire speeds as such interruption may be executed independent of the application layer. In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which is shown, by way of illustration, in various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG.1is a network environment diagram illustrating various components of an exemplary ecosystem with a cloud server and communication devices for application layer-independent triggering of events, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. With reference toFIG.1, there is shown a network environment of an ecosystem100that includes a cloud server102, a plurality of communication devices104, such as a first communication device104A, a second communication device104B, . . . , and Nth communication device104N. There is further shown a communication network106and a Distributed Ledger and Smart Contract (DLSC) system108. The ecosystem100may further include a plurality of nodes110that are communicatively coupled to each other. The DLSC system108may include a smart contract system112. There is further shown a distributed ledger114that remain distributed and in-sync in the plurality of nodes110.

In an implementation, the cloud server102may be one of the plurality of nodes110and thus may also include the distributed ledger114. In some implementations, each of the plurality of communication devices104may also be one of the plurality of nodes110, may store the distributed ledger114, and may be a part of the DLSC system108. In some other implementations, each of the plurality of communication devices104may not be required to store any distributed ledger114itself and may communicate with the cloud server102, which in turn manage and facilitate any interaction with the DLSC system108for the plurality of communication devices104. A plurality of users, such as users116A,116B, . . . ,116N, may interact with the cloud server102and the DLSC system108(directly or indirectly via the cloud server102) using their respective communication devices via the communication network106, as shown.

The cloud server102includes suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to communicate with the plurality of communication devices104and other nodes of the plurality of nodes110. In an implementation, the cloud server102may be a master cloud server or a master machine that is a part of a data center that controls an array of other cloud servers communicatively coupled to it, for load balancing, running customized applications, and efficient data management. The cloud server102may include a main action database102A. The main action database102A may be a database that defines an action corresponding to each defined signature (e.g., a unique indicator). In other words, the defined signature may be pre-registered and pre-assigned to the one or more predefined actions in the main action database102A. The defined signature may be embedded in a data item so that every time the data item is played at any device, such as any one of the plurality of communication devices104, the playing device may detect the defined signature at the lowest layer of the network architecture (i.e., a datalink layer), which then triggers an action defined in the main action database102A. The actions may be predefined by a user or by an artificial intelligence (AI) system.

Each communication device of the plurality of communication devices104includes suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to communicate with the cloud server102. Each communication device of the plurality of communication devices104may be one of a consumer electronic (CE) device (such as a smartphone, a virtual reality headset, an augment reality device, and the like), an edge device, a repeater device, a small cell, a customer premise equipment (CPE), a road-side unit (RSU) device, a fixed wireless access (FWA) device, an in-vehicle device, telecommunication hardware, or user equipment (UE).

The communication network106may include a medium through which the various devices in the ecosystem100, such as the cloud server102, the plurality of communication devices104, and the plurality nodes110, may communicate with each other. In some embodiments, a secured and dedicated communication channel may be established between the plurality of communication devices104and the cloud server102. The communication network106may be implemented by use of various wired and wireless communication protocols. Examples of such wired and wireless communication protocols may include, but are not limited to, at least one of a Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), peer-to-peer network, User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), ZigBee, EDGE, IEEE 802.11, light fidelity (Li-Fi), 802.16, IEEE 802.11s, IEEE 802.11g, multi-hop communication, wireless access point (AP), device-to-device communication, cellular communication protocols, or Bluetooth (BT) communication protocols, or a combination thereof. Other examples of the communication network106may include, but are not limited to, the Internet, a cloud network, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, a secured Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), a Local Area Network (LAN), a telephone line (POTS), or other wired or wireless networks.

In an implementation, the DLSC system108may refer to a blockchain network with associated smart contracts, such as the smart contracts112a,112b, . . . ,112nof the smart contract system112.

In one example, each node of the plurality of nodes110may be configured to discover other nodes and then communicate the discovered nodes to known nodes in the DLSC system108(e.g., a blockchain network). Each node may be configured to communicate transactions to other nodes, regardless of whether the transactions originate with the node or were communicated to it by other nodes of the plurality of nodes110. This way, any given transaction may be disseminated to all nodes of the plurality of nodes110. Each node of the plurality of nodes110may be configured to maintain the distributed ledger114. The distributed ledger114may include records of historical interactions in a time sequence related to the flow of events (e.g., start and end of an event) or movement of content rights from one user to another user. In some embodiments, in addition to content rights, the distributed ledger114may include records of historical interactions in a time sequence for user content consumption associated with each communication device of the plurality of communication devices104, user content consumption related measurement data/analytics, and content catalog information, and the like.

In accordance with an embodiment, each node of the plurality of nodes110may cryptographically hash transaction data of each transaction. This hash may be then digitally signed by the transaction creator with a private key of a private key—public key pair. The public key is shared with other nodes, whereas the private key is kept as a secret. This allows a node to verify the creator (or the initiator) of the transaction and also that the transaction data may not be altered according to the hash digitally signed by the creator. Every single transaction may be verified by checking the distributed ledger114distributed at the plurality of nodes110. Recent validated transactions may be grouped as a block, for example, a block of a custom blockchain, and hashed using a hashing algorithm defined by a protocol adopted by the blockchain (e.g., Ethereum blockchain). Each block may have a unique hash value that is derived from a previous block's final hash, transaction data's hash value, and a defined mathematical value. The rules of the protocol may be defined in the genesis block, i.e., the first group or block.

In accordance with an embodiment, transactions make up the core unit of data that may be recorded into the distributed ledger114of the DLSC system108. Each transaction may be created by a node or a communication device of the plurality of communication devices104, recorded into the distributed ledger114, and then communicated to other nodes (or other communication devices if the other communication devices are also part of the blockchain network, such as the DLSC system108) to be rejected and dismissed or validated and recorded into their ledgers, such as the distributed ledger114maintained at each node. The data traffic created by the transactions between the plurality of nodes110and the plurality of communication devices104via the cloud server102is what defines the ecosystem100or the marketplace for creating, using, tracking usage, selling, or buying of a digital asset, and further seeking permission of a service (e.g., a telecommunication service to improve quality of service, permission to fly a drone near an airport through dynamic smart contract via the DLSC system108), provisioning of the requested service, movement of ownership of content rights, and the like. Generally, the term “digital asset” may refer to any type of media, for example, audio, a video, a data cast, a piece of music, a text, an image, a graphic item, an article, a photo, a photo gallery, a video gallery, an infographic, a map, a poll, a guest biography, a tweet, a social media post, a blog post, a virtual land, a gaming character, or any item that may be converted to an NFT, and/or the like. Moreover, each of the transactions may be, for example, a) an announcement of a newly created user; b) an announcement of the newly available content item, such as a digital asset; d) acquisition of rights to content; e) a user consumption of a content item; and f) an occurrence of an event that is registered in the blockchain of the DLSC system108. The transactions may occur in a sequence, forming a chain of events. In an implementation, only new transaction in the distributed ledger114may be added, and a previous transaction is not editable or changeable. As a copy of the distributed ledger114may be maintained at each node of the plurality of nodes110, where a deliberate attempt to modify a previous transaction at one node may not be matched or found in copies of the distributed ledger114maintained by other nodes, and thus, such modification is not accepted. Thus, events occurrence history maintained by way of a sequence of transactions is immutable and secured.

The smart contract system112may include a number of smart contracts, such as smart contracts112a,112b, . . . ,112n. Each smart contract may be a set of instruction (e.g., a program) stored on a blockchain, such as the DLSC system108, that runs when predetermined conditions are met, for example, to trigger an action defined in the main action database102A when a defined signature is detected by the cloud server102or any one of the plurality of communication devices104. Alternatively, the defined signature may point to an action in the main action database102A, which then triggers a smart contract. In other words, the detection of the defined signature in a packet or a frame by a given device, such as the first communication device104A, may first point to the main action database102A to find what action to execute next and that action may be an execution of a specific smart contract. Alternatively, the detection of the defined signature in a packet or a frame of user data by a given device, such as the first communication device104A, may first point to a specific smart contract which, when executed, leads to a search in the main action database102A to find what action to execute next. The defined signature, its detection, and operations associated with a communication device of the plurality of communication devices104, has been described in detail, for example, inFIGS.4,5, and6A to6C.

Beneficially, the present disclosure provides the ecosystem100that enables application layer-independent accelerated triggering of events in the communication network106(e.g., a blockchain event, an event associated with a smart contract, an event associated with a fungible token (e.g., a cryptocurrency), or an event associated with a non-fungible token (NFT) may be triggered at the datalink layer in an example. Currently, it is well known that the application layer of a network architecture (e.g., the topmost layer of the 7 layer OSI model) controls any triggering of events, such as a blockchain event, an event associated with a smart contract, an event associated with a fungible token (e.g., a cryptocurrency), or an event associated with a non-fungible token (NFT), and the like. In conventional systems, such a triggering mechanism for recording any transaction or initiating any event is controlled by the topmost layer of the network architecture, which creates a technical vulnerability and a challenge in the tracking of each and every usage of the digital asset or a digital service. In other words, the tracking may not be possible for every instance of usage (e.g., a user consumption, such as view, download, access, playing, or gaining ownership rights of the digital asset, or provisioning any customized service in telecommunications) may not be failsafe in existing systems.

In contrast to the existing systems, the communication devices, such as the cloud server102, the first communication device104A, and the method of the present disclosure removes the dependency on the application layer for being the source of triggering events, such as events related to a smart contract, blockchain, NFT related transactions, or fungible tokens, and enables to bring the triggering mechanism down to the lowest of the digitized layer in the networking hierarchy, i.e., the datalink layer, thereby accelerating and securing triggering of any events (e.g., a blockchain event) in the communication network106. In other words, the cloud server102, and the communication devices, such as the first communication device104A, and the method of the present disclosure enables application layer-independent accelerated triggering of events in the communication network106(e.g., a blockchain event, an event associated with a smart contract, an event associated with a fungible token (e.g., a cryptocurrency), or an event associated with a non-fungible token (NFT) may be triggered at the datalink layer). This in turn improves the reliability and accuracy of tracking each user consumption of a digital asset on a device, such as the first communication device104A, while reducing the known vulnerabilities of the application layer. Furthermore, the plurality of communication devices104and the method of the present disclosure provides the ecosystem100to track any usage of a digital asset even if the digital asset is distributed or re-distributed multiple times across a single digital platform or across different digital platforms. Thus, the ecosystem100manifest higher quality of experience (QoE) and reliable digital asset usage and consumption tracking on-the-fly as compared to existing systems.

FIG.2is a block diagram illustrating different components of an exemplary cloud server, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.FIG.2is explained in conjunction with elements fromFIG.1. With reference toFIG.2, there is shown a block diagram200of the cloud server102. The cloud server102may include a processor202, a network interface204, and a primary storage206. The primary storage206may further include the main action database102A, an electronic gateway system102B, a verification system208, a signature generating instructions package (SGIP)210, and a signature generator212. In an implementation, the cloud server102may be a part of the DLSC system108and may be one of the plurality of nodes110. In such a case, the primary storage206may further include the distributed ledger114. There is further shown a copyright database214.

The processor202may be communicatively coupled to the network interface204and the primary storage206. The processor202may be configured to execute various operations of the cloud server102. The processor202may be configured to control various components of the cloud server102. Examples of the implementation of the processor202may include but are not limited to a central processing unit (CPU) platform including one or more processors, a specialized digital signal processor (DSP), a Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) processor, an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) processor, a Complex Instruction Set Computing (CISC) processor, and/or other processors, or control circuitry.

The network interface204may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and/or code that may be configured to connect and communicate with the plurality of communication devices104. In an implementation, one or more of the plurality of communication devices104may be one or more nodes of the plurality of nodes110in the ecosystem100. Thus, the network interface204may communicate with the plurality of nodes110via the communication network106. The network interface204may implement known technologies to support wired or wireless communication. The network interface204may include, but are not limited to a network interface card (NIC), an antenna, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner, one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a coder-decoder (CODEC) chipset, a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, and/or a local buffer. The network interface204may communicate via offline and online wireless communication with networks, such as the Internet, an Intranet, and/or a wireless network, such as a cellular telephone network, a wireless local area network (WLAN), personal area network, and/or a metropolitan area network (MAN). The wireless communication may use any of a plurality of communication standards, protocols and technologies, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), LTE 4G, 5G, time division multiple access (TDMA), BLUETOOTH™, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) (such as IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, and/or any other IEEE 802.11 protocol), voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, light-fidelity (Li-Fi), Internet-of-Things (IoT) technology, Machine-Type-Communication (MTC) technology, a protocol for email, instant messaging, Short Message Service (SMS), or quantum entanglement based communication.

The primary storage206may be configured to store the main action database102A, the electronic gateway system102B, the verification system208, the signature generating instructions package (SGIP)210, and the signature generator212. The primary storage206may be further configured store values calculated by the processor202. Examples of the implementation of the primary storage206may include, but not limited to, a cloud-based storage, a storage array, or other memory and storage systems. There may be one or more secondary storage servers, such as backup servers, which may implement backup policies for an automatic backup of data of the primary storage206.

The electronic gateway system102B may be a system that is configured to present an online platform to any one of the plurality of communication devices104so that a given user may register itself and register a digital asset in the online platform, which is then associated with the DLSC system108. The electronic gateway system102B may be a presentation system that allows remote user interaction with the cloud server102, for example, to create an NFT, for viewing any NFT, tracking usage of any NFT in the same platform, or other platforms using the defined signature, and transferring ownership of rights of the digital asset and the like. For example, the cloud server102may be configured to present the online platform using the electronic gateway system102B for the first communication device104A to connect, interact, and consume the digital asset. In an implementation, the electronic gateway system102B may be configured to present metadata of multiple content libraries that may be owned by different entities, for example, different content owners, distributors, re-distributors, VOD service providers, NFTs, and the like, as a unified content library for its registered users, such as the user116A, to navigate.

The verification system208may be configured to verify a given defined signature received from a given communication device of the plurality of communication devices104. The verification system208may have access to a list of defined signatures (e.g., a hash index table), which may be matched to see if the received defined signatures is present in the list of defined signatures and if present, what is the corresponding action to be executed as defined in the main action database102A for that particular defined signature for which the match was confirmed.

The signature generating instructions package (SGIP)210may be an instruction pack that may be communicated to any of the plurality of communication devices104on request. In a case where a given communication device of the plurality of communication devices104do not have pre-installed instructions to generate the defined signature, the given communication device may be configured to acquire the SGIP210from the cloud server102to generate the defined signature. For example, a binary version of a source code may be downloaded to generate a given defined signature that can be detected at a packet level or frame level. In other words, a hashing algorithm that provides and generates unique hash values may be made available in binary format so that third party entities or any devices may use it and define an action for the defined signature in the ecosystem100.

The signature generator212may be configured to generate the defined signature, which may be a unique indicator. Once the SGIP210is installed, the signature generator212may be obtained, having logic to generate a new signature and define an action for the generated signature. In an implementation, the defined signature may be a defined indicator or flag, a pre-generated index, or a pattern may be recognizable by a hardware logic, a driver code, a firmware code, an uBoot image of a device. In an example, the defined signature may be implemented as a hashed value index, which may be generated by the signature generator212.

In an implementation, the copyright database214may be part of the cloud server102. In another implementation, the copyright database214may be provided external to the cloud server102but may be accessible to the cloud server102. The copyright database214along with its operations and use are described in detail, for example, inFIG.5.

FIG.3is a block diagram illustrating different components of an exemplary communication device, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.FIG.3is explained in conjunction with elements fromFIGS.1and2. With reference toFIG.3, there is shown a block diagram300of the first communication device104A. The first communication device104A may include a processor302, a network interface304, a memory306, and an output component308. The memory306may include a local database310, a local validity checker312, a signature generator314. In some implementations, the first communication device104A may be one of the plurality of nodes110. In such a case, the memory306may further include the distributed ledger114.

The processor302may be communicatively coupled to the network interface304, the memory306, and the output component308. The processor302may be configured to execute various operations of the first communication device104A. The first communication device104A may be a programmable device, where the processor302may execute instructions stored in memory306. Examples of the implementation of the processor302may include, but are not limited to an embedded processor, a microcontroller, a specialized digital signal processor (DSP), a Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) processor, an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) processor, a Complex Instruction Set Computing (CISC) processor, and/or other processors, or state machines.

The network interface304may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and/or code that may be configured to communicate with the cloud server102via the communication network106. In an implementation, the first communication device104A may be one of the plurality of nodes110in the ecosystem100may communicate with the plurality of nodes110via the communication network106. The network interface304may implement known technologies to support wired or wireless communication. Examples of the network interface304may include but are not limited to a network interface card (NIC), an antenna, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, and the like.

The memory306may be configured to store the local database310, the local validity checker312, and the signature generator314. Examples of the implementation of the memory306may include, but not limited to, a random access memory (RAM), a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a processor cache, a thyristor random access memory (T-RAM), a zero-capacitor random access memory (Z-RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), a secure digital (SD) card, a flash drive, cache memory, and/or other non-volatile memory.

The local database310may be a database that may reside in each of the plurality of communication devices104, i.e., a servicing entity or hardware. The local database310may be a memory structured database to upload the serviced defined signature and to eventually synchronize with the cloud server102, for example, in a bi-directional synchronization. In an implementation, the local database310may be implemented as a memory cache to assist with look ups for defined signatures at wire speed using the downloaded SGIP210. In another implementation, there may be a separate cache for lookups, for example, a subset of the local database310. The local validity checker312may be configured to execute a local validity check of the defined signature at a given communication device of the plurality of communication devices104for verification when the defined signature associated with a data packet when detected at the datalink layer. The signature generator314may be similar to the signature generator212of the cloud server102.

In an implementation, the output component308may be part of the first communication device104A. In such a case, the output component308may be an audio output device, a display device, or a combination thereof. In another implementation, the output component308may be distinct from the first communication device104A and may be communicatively coupled to the first communication device104A.

FIG.4is a diagram illustrating a network architecture for communication over a communication medium between two communication devices for application layer-independent triggering of events in a communication network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.4is explained in conjunction with elements fromFIGS.1,2, and3. With reference toFIG.4, there is shown a network architecture400for communication over a communication medium418between two communication devices, such as the first communication device104A and the second communication device104B, for application layer-independent triggering of events in the communication network106.

In an example, the network architecture400may be explained using an Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model well known in the art that specifies seven hierarchical layers (i.e., an application layer402, a presentation layer404, a session layer406, a transport layer408, a network layer410, a datalink layer412, and a physical layer414) that computer systems use to communicate over a network. The application layer402may be used by end-user software applications, where the application layer402provides protocols that allow software to send and receive information and present meaningful data to users. The presentation layer404typically defines how two communication devices encrypt and compress data, so it is received correctly on the other end. The session layer406is known to maintain connections and is responsible for controlling ports and sessions. In another example of the network architecture400, for example, Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), the functionalities of the application layer402, the presentation layer404, and the session layer406is combined into the application layer402. Moreover, the datalink layer412and the physical layer414is further combined into a network access layer. Thus, for the present disclosure, the datalink layer412may be construed to encompass the network access layer and refer to the lowest layer of a given networking layers hierarchy, such as the network architecture400, where the data is first available in digitized format.

Typically, in the OSI model, the datalink layer412is responsible for establishing and terminating a connection between two connected devices on a network. The datalink layer412breaks up packets into frames and sends them from the source device to the destination device. The datalink layer412may be composed of two parts—Logical Link Control (LLC), which identifies network protocols, performs error checking and synchronizes frames, and Media Access Control (MAC), which uses MAC addresses to connect devices and define permissions to transmit and receive data. Currently, the application layer402controls any triggering of events, such as a blockchain event, an event associated with a smart contract, an event associated with a fungible token (e.g., a cryptocurrency), or an event associated with a non-fungible token (NFT), and the like. In conventional systems, such triggering mechanism for recording any transaction or initiating any event is controlled by the topmost layer of the network architecture400, i.e., the application layer402, which creates a technical vulnerability and a challenge in the tracking of each and every usage of the digital asset or a digital service. In other words, the tracking may not be possible for every instances of usage (e.g., a user consumption, such as view, download, access, playing, or gaining ownership rights of the digital asset, or provisioning any custom service in telecommunications) may not be failsafe in existing systems. The communication devices, such as the first communication device104A, and the method of the present disclosure removes the dependency on the application layer402(i.e., the topmost layer of the network architecture400) for being the source of triggering events, such as events related to a smart contract, blockchain, NFT related transactions, or fungible tokens, and enables to bring the triggering mechanism down to the lowest of the digitized layer in the networking hierarchy, i.e., the datalink layer412. In other words, the communication devices, such as the first communication device104A, and the method of the present disclosure enables application layer-independent accelerated triggering of events in the communication network106(e.g., a blockchain event, an event associated with a smart contract, an event associated with a fungible token (e.g., a cryptocurrency), or an event associated with a non-fungible token (NFT) may be triggered at the datalink layer412).

In accordance with an embodiment, the user116B who may operate the second communication device104B may want to transmit a digital asset, such as an image, to the first communication device104A. In an example, the second communication device104B may be an electronic device, such as a smartphone, communicatively coupled to the communication network106. In another example, the second communication device104B may be a server, such as the cloud server102, which may be configured to present an online platform (e.g., the electronic gateway system102B) for the first communication device104A to connect, interact, and consume the digital asset. In an implementation, the electronic gateway system102B may be configured to present metadata of multiple content libraries that may be owned by different entities, for example, different content owners, distributors, re-distributors, VOD service providers, NFTs, and the like, as a unified content library for its registered users, such as the user116A, to navigate.

Typically, at a given communication device, such as the second communication device104B, control is passed from one layer to the next, starting at the application layer402and proceeding up to the physical layer414for transmitting user data (e.g., the image). The physical layer414of the second communication device104B may be responsible for the transmission of raw data, which is simply a series of 0s and 1s, i.e., a raw bit stream, over the communication medium418, in the form of a data signal420.

In the present disclosure, before the user data (i.e., the digital asset, such as the image) leaves the second communication device104B, a defined signature416may be embedded and associated with the user data. In an implementation, the defined signature416may be embedded in a portion of user data that is to be transmitted by the second communication device104B. In an implementation, the embedding of the defined signature416may be done using an application and may involve the application layer402of the second communication device104B. In another implementation, the embedding of the defined signature416and associating the defined signature416with a given packet, may be done directly at the network layer410or the datalink layer412. The defined signature416may be associated with one of the data packets and may be a unique indicator.

In an implementation, the defined signature416may be a defined indicator or flag, a pre-generated index, or a pattern that may be recognizable by a hardware logic, a driver code, a firmware code, an uBoot image of a device. In an example, the defined signature416may be implemented as a hashed value index. The hashed vale index may be generated as a result of combining (XOR-ing) a bunch of other numeric or alphanumeric values. The hashed value index (i.e., a given hash value) used as a signature may be memory efficient as indexing of a table of hash values may be comparatively faster and requires less memory space in a memory device (both local memory of communication devices, and at the cloud server102that may store millions of unique defined signatures). In another implementation, the defined signature416may be a unique code, for example, an alphanumeric of a defined length. In yet another implementation, the defined signature416may be a combination of an identifier (ID) of a user generating the signature, a unique code for the digital asset, and a number added incrementally for each consecutive packet of the same digital asset. Each defined signature, such as the defined signature416, may be predefined, pre-registered, and pre-assigned to an action (i.e., a predefined action). Alternatively stated, all defined signatures may be predefined, pre-registered, pre-assigned to a corresponding set of actions.

In accordance with an embodiment, in a case where the second communication device104B do not have pre-installed instructions to generate the defined signature416, the second communication device104B may be configured to acquire the instructions from the cloud server102to generate the defined signature416. For example, a binary version of a source code may be downloaded to generate a given defined signature that can be detected at a packet level or frame level. In other words, a hashing algorithm that provides and generates unique hash values may be made available in binary format so that third party entities or any devices may use it and define an action for the defined signature416(i.e., what event is to be triggered when the defined signature416is detected using the ecosystem100). Thus, the second communication device104B may be configured to communicate a data signal420to the first communication device104A. The data signal420may comprise the defined signature416, which may be associated with at least a portion of the user data.

The processor302of the first communication device104A may be configured to receive the data signal420from the second communication device104B. The data signal420may be received over the communication medium418. The communication medium418may be a wired or wireless medium. For example, the data signal420received from the second communication device104B may be a wireless radio signal, an electrical signal received via a physical electrically conductive medium (e.g., a wired medium), or an optical signal. The processor302of the first communication device104A may be further configured to convert the data signal420to a bit stream at the physical layer414of the network architecture400. The bit stream refers to raw data (e.g., a series of “0” and “1” bits).

The processor302may be further configured to execute a frame level inspection of the bit stream at the datalink layer412for the defined signature416. The processor302may be further configured to detect the defined signature416associated with a first data packet in a frame based on the executed frame level inspection of the bit stream at the datalink layer412. The defined signature416associated with the first data packet may be a unique indicator.

It is well-known that a frame is a digital data transmission unit and may also be referred to as a protocol data unit (PDU). In this case, the first communication device104A may be the receiver device that picks up the data signal420from its hardware, such as the network interface304, and assembles it into frames. In an example, a given frame may comprise frame header, payload (i.e., the user data), trailer, and flag, also known in the art. The frame header may comprise a destination address, a source address and control fields, such as kind, seq, and ack, where the kind field may state whether the frame may be a data frame or used for control functions like error and flow control or link management, and the like. The “seq” field may comprise a sequence number of the frame for rearrangement of out-of-sequence frames and sending acknowledgements.

In the present disclosure, in an implementation, the processor302may be further configured to detect the defined signature416in a frame by inspection of the frame header, where the frame header may be modified to include an illegal type of frame header, such as an undefined frame header type. This illegal type may then point to a certain portion of the payload, where the defined signature resides (e.g., it may point to a unique hash index value). In another implementation, the processor302may be further configured to detect the defined signature416in the frame by detecting a predefined pattern in the frame header which is indicative of an upcoming signature (i.e., the defined signature416) in a portion of the payload (i.e., the user data). In yet another implementation, the defined signature416may be detected using a correlator and a match filter that may detect the defined signature416. The correlator and a match filter may be implemented as a hardware logic or a driver and may be pre-installed or acquired from the cloud server102when in operation. The detection of the defined signature416in a frame or packet may occur for an Ethernet communication (i.e., IEEE 802.3 frame format), network packets of wireless signals (e.g., IEEE 802.11 frame structure) or cellular communication (e.g., 5G New Radio (NR) frame format), or true 5G radio frame. In other words, the frame may be a radio frame, an Ethernet frame, or 802.11 based frame.

In accordance with an embodiment, the processor302may be further configured to execute an online cloud level verification or an offline device level verification of the defined signature416. In the case of the online cloud level verification, the processor302may be further configured to communicate the defined signature416to the cloud server102for verification when the defined signature416associated with the first data packet is detected at the datalink layer412. Thereafter, the processor302may be further configured to execute a standard flow of a plurality of data packets from the physical layer414to the application layer402for playing of corresponding data associated with the plurality of data packets on the output component308until a decision datum confirming the verification of the defined signature416as successful is obtained from the cloud server102. Alternatively stated, the processor302may not immediately interrupt decryption and playback of a next data packet after the first data packet and may continue to serve the user116A until the decision of the cloud server102reaches the first communication device104A. In an implementation, the output component308may be a part of the first communication device104A, for example, an audio device or a display device of the first communication device104A. In another implementation, the output component308may be an external component, such as another device distinct from the first communication device104A and communicatively coupled to the first communication device104A. For example, in a case where the first communication device104A is a repeater device, the actual consumption of the user data may occur at a UE being served by the repeater device, where the repeater device may not have an inbuilt display or audio component.

In accordance with an embodiment, the processor302may be further configured to maintain the standard flow of the plurality of data packets from the physical layer414to the application layer402for the playing of the corresponding data associated with the plurality of data packets on the output component308upon verification of the defined signature416as successful. Alternatively, the processor302may be further configured to interrupt a next data packet from playing when the decision datum obtained from the cloud server102confirms the verification of the defined signature416as unsuccessful.

In accordance with an embodiment, in the case of the offline device level verification, the processor302may be further configured to execute a local validity check of the defined signature416at the first communication device104A for verification when the defined signature416associated with the first data packet is detected at the datalink layer412. The local validity check of the defined signature416at the first communication device104A may comprise executing a pattern recognition of the defined signature416based on at least one of a predefined hardware logic, a predefined driver code, a predefined firmware code, a hashed value index, a bootable image, an operating system kernel image, or a binary image present in the first communication device104A.

In accordance with an embodiment, the processor302may be further configured to execute the standard flow of the plurality of data packets from the physical layer414to the application layer402for playing of corresponding data associated with the plurality of data packets on the output component308until a decision datum confirming the verification of the defined signature416as successful is obtained locally based on the local validity check of the defined signature416at the first communication device104A. The processor302may be further configured to maintain the standard flow of the plurality of data packets from the physical layer414to the application layer402for the playing of the corresponding data associated with the plurality of data packets on the output component308upon verification of the defined signature416as successful from the local validity check of the defined signature416at the first communication device104A. Alternatively, the processor302may be further configured to interrupt the next data packet from playing at the output component308when the decision datum confirms the verification of the defined signature416as unsuccessful. The decision datum may be obtained locally based on the local validity check of the defined signature416at the first communication device104A.

The processor302may be further configured to trigger an event in the communication network106at the datalink layer412irrespective of involvement of an application layer402of the network architecture400based on the detected defined signature416associated with the first data packet. In an example, the defined signature416may be associated with a first portion (e.g., may be embedded in the first packet) of user data (i.e., the payload) received from the second communication device104B, where the linkage among the plurality of data packets (i.e., sequence of packets or frames) may be managed by the servicing protocol of the network architecture400. For instance, any of the layers responsible for such management of the sequence of data packets (e.g., datalink layer412, the network layer410, the transport layer408, the session layer406) of the network architecture400. For instance, there may be a data stream playing a song. The defined signature416may be associated with the first 64-byte packet's payload, which indicates that this song requires payment as a predefined set of actions to be paid by a token, such as a fungible token (e.g., a cryptocurrency). The ecosystem100may be configured to detect the defined signature416at the lowest digitized layer (e.g., the datalink layer412) without the need for the user data to involve the application layer402and trigger predefined the action required, such as the requirement of the payment to continue playing the remaining part of the song. The network architecture400and its layers may manage the packet linkage and its management, and the operations of the processor302may not interfere with the other operations and layers of the network architecture400except that the triggering mechanism modified and improved to be managed at the lowest digitized layer of the networking hierarchy (e.g., the datalink layer412of the network architecture400).

In accordance with an embodiment, the defined signature416may be pre-registered and pre-assigned to the one or more predefined actions in the main action database102A. Thus, the processor302may be further configured to trigger one or more predefined actions defined in the main action database102A when the defined signature416associated with the first data packet is detected at the datalink layer412. The main action database102A may be an external database that resides either in one or more other communication devices different from the first communication device104A or resides in the cloud server102(FIG.1).

In an implementation, the triggering of the event in the communication network106may comprise triggering a new event in the distributed ledger114of a blockchain422(i.e., the DLSC system108) at the datalink layer412without the involvement of the application layer402of the network architecture400. In an implementation, the triggering of the event in the communication network106further comprises triggering a smart contract112a(of the smart contract system112) associated with the blockchain422at the datalink layer412without the involvement of the application layer402of the network architecture400.

In accordance with an embodiment, the detection of the defined signature416and the triggering of the event may be executed at a wire speed. Thus, the processor302may be further configured to interrupt or corrupt a flow of the data stream when one of the following occurs: a) when the cloud server102or the local validity check confirms the verification of the defined signature416as unsuccessful; b) when a copyright check of the played data stream (e.g., the song) reveals a copyright infringement or theft; or c) when the action defined in the main action database102A for the defined signature416indicates for immediate termination of the data stream being played. In such a case, the processor302may be configured to block the data stream, drop the upcoming packets, or corrupt the final checksum to abort such activity and report back the reason (to the application layer402of the first communication device104A and create an entry in a cloud log of the cloud server102).

In yet another implementation, the defined signature416may be embedded in a plurality of portions of the user data that is to be transmitted by the second communication device104B. In yet another implementation, a plurality of different defined signatures may be embedded in the plurality of portions of the user data that is to be transmitted by the second communication device104B to the first communication device104A. In such an implementation, the plurality of different defined signatures may trigger a different type of event in the communication network106. In an implementation, each of the plurality of different defined signatures may be linked to a different action in the main action database102A, which in turn may trigger different events as defined by a user.

In an exemplary scenario, a user, such as the user116A, of the first communication device104A, may create an NFT at an online portal managed by the cloud server102. The first communication device104A may check the authenticity of the digital asset for which the NFT is created using a copyright database that may be stored in the cloud server102. For example, when the first communication device104A detects the defined signature416, it may trigger search events in two cloud databases concurrently, such as the main action database102A and the copyright database pointed by the cloud server102. In an example, a first search may occur in the copyright database, where if a search result indicates a copyright violation for the digital asset (e.g., image, video, audio), the copyright database decision may get priority and terminate the flow of the plurality of packets. Thus, a signal may be communicated by the cloud server102to the first communication device104A to block the flow of the next packets (i.e., the standard flow of the plurality of data packets of the copyrighted digital asset from the physical layer414to the application layer402for playing of corresponding data associated with the plurality of data packets may be interrupted on the output component308. The block flow signal may be communicated even if the main action database102A defines an action that a charge of “X” amount of token (e.g., 0.01 value) of cryptocurrency is collected for further consumption of the digital asset.

In another implementation, some objects or digital assets may be copyrighted but may be defined in rules to be allowed to get a pass from the copyright database so that an action defined in the main action database102A is to be executed using the pass. Such rules for copyright management may be defined by the owner of the digital asset who has the copyright at the time of registering for copyright or at the time of generating a defined signature for the digital asset. For example, a copyrighted material may be free-to-use for certain duration, for certain IP addresses, for certain users, or for certain geography, and the like. Thus, based on the DLSC system108and the ecosystem100, such smart and dynamic content rights and event execution management may be enabled.

FIG.5is a network environment diagram with a cloud server and a communication device for application layer-independent accelerated triggering of events in a communication network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. With reference toFIG.5, there is shown a network environment diagram500that comprises the cloud server102, the first communication device104A, and a content storage server502. In an implementation, the content storage server502may include the copyright database214.

In operation, in accordance with an embodiment, a user, such as the user116A, of the first communication device104A, may want to create an NFT of a digital asset via an online portal managed by the cloud server102. The cloud server102may be configured to present a user interface (UI) on the first communication device104A. The processor202of the cloud server102may be configured to obtain a request from the first communication device104A to register the digital asset. At the time of registration of the digital asset (e.g., a video or an image or any piece of digital art), the processor202may be further configured to check the authenticity of the digital asset for which the NFT is created using the copyright database214. The copyright database214may be accessible by the cloud server102. In an implementation, the copyright database214may be stored in the cloud server102. In another implementation, the copyright database214may be stored in another server, such as the content storage server502, but may be accessible to the cloud server102.

In accordance with an embodiment, the processor202may be configured to embed the defined signature (e.g., the defined signature416) in the one or more portions of the digital asset. At the time of first registration of the digital asset, the cloud server102may be configured to embed the defined signature (e.g., the defined signature416) in the one or more portions of the digital asset. Furthermore, a user-defined action may be assigned to the defined signature in the main action database102A. In an implementation, the user-defined action may be assigned to the defined signature in the main action database102A in a real-time or a near real-time based on a request (e.g., a user input) received from the first communication device104A. The user-defined action may specify what action to take when the defined signature (e.g., the defined signature416) is detected and successfully validated by the cloud server102. As the cloud server102checks for copyright violation if any related to the registered digital asset at the time of registering the digital asset, the legitimacy issue of NFT is resolved. The processor202may be configured to execute a resemblance search of the digital asset in the copyright database214. In a first example, in a case where the digital asset is a video, a portion of the video may be compared in a preliminary examination to copyrighted materials stored in the content storage server502. In a case where the resemblance is higher than a threshold, an extensive examination may be carried out to find if the portion of the video matches with the prestored copyrighted videos. In such a case, an artificial intelligence (AI) model that is pretrained on the copyrighted videos may be used to determine the resemblance between the digital asset being registered with that of the prestored copyrighted videos. If the probability is greater than 80%, then instead of a single portion, multiple portions (i.e., multiple video segments) of the same video may be searched for checking copyright violation. Similar to the video based AI model, depending on the type of digital asset, for example, a video, an image, a gaming character, a graphical item, a text material, different pre-trained AI models that may be trained on a particular type of digital asset may be selected to ascertain the resemblance within a defined threshold time (e.g., less than a few milliseconds or seconds). For instance, if the digital asset to be registered is an image, then a dedicated AI model pre-trained on images of the copyrighted material may be used for resemblance search.

In an implementation, based on a plurality of AI models that are pre-trained on different types of digital assets (e.g., videos, images, text, and graphical items), different unique codes (e.g., hash codes, or alphanumeric codes, or patterns) may be prestored for each copyrighted material available. In some cases, all digital media uploaded on a social media by a user of the social media may be tagged with the username of the user and may also be processed to generate the different unique codes so that any new digital asset may be checked for copyright violation by just comparing with the unique codes instead of the content-based resemblance search (i.e., matching actual content), to significantly reduce time to execute the resemblance search.

The digital asset may be requested by one of the plurality of communication devices104for consumption (e.g., for viewing, accessing, downloading, playing of audio, etc.). For instance, the first communication device104A may receive the data signal420from the second communication device104B. The data signal420may be received over the communication medium418. The first communication device104A may be further configured to convert the data signal420to a bit stream at the physical layer414of the network architecture400. The bit stream refers to raw data (e.g., a series of “0” and “1” bits). The first communication device104A may be further configured to execute a frame level inspection of the bit stream at the datalink layer412for the defined signature416. The processor302may be further configured to detect the defined signature416associated with one or more data packets in a frame based on a frame level inspection of the bit stream executed at the datalink layer412. The defined signature416associated with one or more data packets (e.g., a first data packet) may be a unique indicator. In some implementations, the processor202of cloud server102may be further configured to cause the first communication device104A to execute the frame level inspection of the bit stream of the digital asset at the datalink layer412of the network architecture400for the defined signature.

In accordance with an embodiment, the first communication device104A may be further configured to communicate the defined signature416to the cloud server102for verification when the defined signature416associated with one or more data packets (e.g., the first data packet) is detected at the datalink layer412. Thereafter, the first communication device104A may be further configured to execute a standard flow of a plurality of data packets from the physical layer414to the application layer402for playing of corresponding data associated with the plurality of data packets on the output component308until a decision datum confirming the verification of the defined signature416as successful or not successful is obtained from the cloud server102. Alternatively stated, the first communication device104A may not immediately interrupt decryption and playback of a next data packet after the first data packet and may continue to serve a user (e.g., the user116A) until the decision of the cloud server102reaches the first communication device104A.

The processor202of the cloud server102may be configured to obtain the defined signature416from the first communication device104A. The defined signature416may be then deciphered by the cloud server102. The processor202may be further configured to validate the defined signature416based on the search of the defined signature416in the main action database102A in the cloud server102. In an example, the processor202may cause the verification system208to verify the obtained defined signature416. The verification system208may have access to a list of defined signatures (e.g., a hash index table) prestored in the main action database102A. The obtained defined signatures416may be compared with the list of defined signatures to check a presence of the obtained defined signatures416in the list. In a case where the obtained defined signatures416is present in the list of defined signatures, presence is found, the validation of the defined signature416may be considered as successful. In other words, it may be checked whether the validation of the defined signature416is successful or not. In a case where the validation is successful, it may be further checked whether a copyright check is required or not for the digital asset associated with the defined signature416. In a case where the validation is not successful, the processor202may be further configured to interrupt one or more data packets of the digital asset from being consumed at the first communication device104A. In a case where it is determined that a copyright check is required for the digital asset associated with the defined signature416, the processor202may be further configured to execute the resemblance search of the digital asset in the copyright database214accessible by the cloud server102. The resemblance search may be performed similar to that performed during the registration.

The processor202may be further configured to determine an occurrence of a copyright violation for the digital asset based on a resemblance search of the digital asset in the copyright database214accessible by the cloud server102. The processor202may be further configured to interrupt one or more data packets of the digital asset from being consumed at the first communication device104A based on the occurrence of the copyright violation determined for the digital asset. The interruption of the one or more data packets is executed at one or more layers different from the application layer402of the network architecture400at the first communication device104A. For instance, the one or more layers may be the datalink layer412and the network layer410. In some implementations, the one or more layers may be any of the layers responsible for management of a sequence of data packets (e.g., datalink layer412, the network layer410, the transport layer408, and the session layer406) of the network architecture400except the application layer402. In order to interrupt the one or more data packets of the digital asset from being consumed at the first communication device104A, the processor202may cause the first communication device104A to disrupt a standard flow of a plurality of data packets from the physical layer414to the application layer402so that an output (i.e., playing) of corresponding data associated with the plurality of data packets on the output component308communicatively coupled to the first communication device104A is disrupted. For example, decryption of the data packets may be blocked, or bits of data packets may be scrambled to disrupt presentation and playback of a next data packet after the first data packet. The output component308may be a part of the first communication device104A or may be an external component communicatively coupled to the first communication device104A.

Alternatively, in accordance with an embodiment, the processor202may be further configured to determine an absence of the copyright violation for the digital asset when the resemblance search of the digital asset in the copyright database214is negative. In such a case where the defined signature validation is successful as well as there is no copyright violation or copyright check is not required, the processor202may be further configured to trigger an event in the communication network106based on the validated defined signature416(i.e., a successful validation of the defined signature416) and the absence of the copyright violation for the digital asset. As the defined signature416is associated with an action in the main action database102A, the processor202may be further configured to select the corresponding action associated with the defined signature416, and then execute the action accordingly at the wire speed as defined in the main action database102A. Moreover, as the triggering mechanism is independent of the application layer402, the detection of copyright and blocking of data packets can be effectively achieved which was otherwise not practical in case of use of the application layer402for triggering any events in conventional systems. The cloud server102significantly reduces the latency and vulnerability involved in application-layer based processing and triggering of events by making the triggering mechanism be executed at the lowest digitalized layer (e.g., the datalink layer412or one or more other layers different from the application layer402) of the network architecture400(e.g., OSI network architecture). This in turn improves the reliability and accuracy of tracking each user consumption of a digital asset on a device, such as the first communication device104A, while reducing the known vulnerabilities of the application layer402. Furthermore, the cloud server102and the plurality of communication devices104of the present disclosure provides the ecosystem100to track any usage of a given digital asset even if the digital asset is distributed or re-distributed multiple times across a single digital platform or across different digital platforms. Thus, the ecosystem100manifest higher quality of experience (QoE) and reliable digital asset usage and consumption tracking on-the-fly as compared to existing systems.

In an implementation, the triggering of the event in the communication network106may include triggering a new event in the distributed ledger114of the blockchain422(i.e., the DLSC system108), wherein the triggering is initiated at the one or more layers of the network architecture400different from the application layer402of the network architecture400. In a first example, there may be a data stream playing a video, that may be tokenized as NFT. The defined signature416may be associated with the first 64-byte packet's payload, which indicates that the video NFT requires payment as a predefined set of actions to be paid by a token, such as a cryptocurrency like Ethereum. Once the cloud server102validates the defined signature416as successful and confirms that there is no copyright violation for the NFT video, a predefined action is triggered, such as the requirement of the payment to continue playing the remaining part of the NFT video. The network architecture400and its layers may manage the packet linkage and its management, and the operations of the cloud server102and as well as the first communication device104amay not interfere with the other operations and layers of the network architecture400except that the triggering mechanism is modified and improved to be managed at the lowest digitized layer of the networking hierarchy (e.g., the datalink layer412of the network architecture400).

In another example, the first communication device104A may be a repeater device or an access point, which may be used to communicate different data streams for different subscribers, and some of the user devices (i.e., streaming customers) may require the Quality of Service (QoS) feature enabled and may be willing to pay for it and some of the user devices (streaming customers) may not require such QoS features. The cloud server102enables such ecosystem100where on the fly smart contract may be made and when a given defined signature is validated successfully and the copyright check is passed, the cloud server102allows QoS feature to be enabled for specific user devices and maintain a record of it.

In an implementation, the triggering of the event in the communication network106may further include triggering a smart contract (e.g., a smart contract112aof the smart contract system112) associated with the blockchain422at the one or more layers of the network architecture400different from the application layer402of the network architecture400. For instance, the user116A of the first communication device104A may want to communicate with the user116B of the second communication device104B in an emergency. The user116A of the first communication device104A may be in an area where a first carrier signal in 5G of a first telecom service provider may not be available, and a nearby base station may be operating within Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules that defines radiation level operating thresholds for telecommunications but may still not provide adequate coverage for the first communication device104A for 5G for uplink and downlink communication. By use of the ecosystem100, in such situation, the first communication device104A may send a request to enable 5G communication for limited time period, say 1 hour. The cloud server102may be configured to generate dynamic smart contract (e.g., the smart contract112b) between the first communication device104A and a dedicated service provider and make available the 5G signal to the first communication device104A. For example, for emergency video calling for limited period of time, the radiation level of the RF signals from the base station may be increased or a new service provider may be enrolled to serve the first communication device104A. The dedicated service provider which may provide the service may be any service provider available and willing to provide the requested service at that time. Thus, the dedicated service provider may be the original first telecom service provider or a new telecom service provider for which on the fly smart contract may be created.

In an implementation, the triggering of the event in the communication network106may be independent of smart contract, but may include triggering one or more predefined actions defined in the main action database102A when the defined signature associated with the digital asset is validated as well as when the occurrence of the copyright violation is negative. The processor202may be further configured to generate a log of the start time and the end time of the event and associated action. Similarly, a log of start and end time of the interruption of the one or more data packets of the digital asset may also be recorded.

In an implementation, depending on what kind of request it is from a communication device, such as the first communication device104A, to the cloud server102, an event may happen at different layers of the network architecture400. Alternatively stated, the ecosystem100including the cloud server102may be further configured to segregate requests based on their type (e.g., an access request of a digital asset, a telecommunication service request, a download or play request of a NFT video, etc.), and then select a layer of operation in the network architecture400amongst the plurality of layers for event triggering.

FIGS.6A and6Bcollectively is a flowchart diagram illustrating a method for application layer-independent accelerated triggering of events in a communication network, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. With reference toFIGS.6A and6B, there is shown a flowchart600comprising exemplary operations602through622. The operations of the method depicted in the flowchart600may be implemented in the cloud server102(FIG.1).

At602, a request may be obtained from the first communication device104A to register a digital asset. The processor202may be configured to obtain the request from the first communication device104A to register a digital asset.

At604, a defined signature (e.g., the defined signature416) may be embedded in one or more portions of the digital asset based on the request received from the first communication device104A. The processor202may be configured to embed the defined signature (e.g., the defined signature416) in the one or more portions of the digital asset. In an implementation, a user-defined action may be assigned to the defined signature in the main action database102A in a real-time or a near real-time based on a request received from the first communication device104A. In some implementations, the processor202may be further configured to cause the first communication device104A to execute a frame level inspection of a bit stream of the digital asset at the datalink layer412of the network architecture400for the defined signature.

At606, the defined signature may be obtained from the first communication device104A, where the defined signature is associated with the digital asset at the first communication device104A. The processor202may be configured to obtain the defined signature from the first communication device104A. The defined signature may be then deciphered by the cloud server102.

At608, the defined signature may be validated based on a search of the defined signature in the main action database102A in the cloud server102. The processor202may be further configured to validate the defined signature based on the search of the defined signature in the main action database102A in the cloud server102.

At610, it may be checked whether the validation of the defined signature is successful or not. In a case where the validation is successful, the control moves to612. In a case where the validation is not successful, the control moves to618.

At612, it may be checked whether a copyright check is required or not for the digital asset associated with the defined signature. In a case where it is determined that a copyright check is required for the digital asset associated with the defined signature, the control passes to614or else the control passes to620.

At614, a resemblance search of the digital asset may be executed in a copyright database214accessible by the cloud server102. The processor202may be further configured to execute the resemblance search of the digital asset in the copyright database214accessible by the cloud server102.

At616A, an occurrence of a copyright violation may be determined for the digital asset based on a resemblance search of the digital asset in the copyright database214accessible by the cloud server102. The control from616A passes to618. Alternatively, at616B, an absence of the copyright violation may be determined for the digital asset when the resemblance search of the digital asset in the copyright database214is negative. The control from616B passes to620.

At618, one or more data packets of the digital asset may be interrupted from being consumed at the first communication device104A based on the occurrence of the copyright violation determined for the digital asset. The interruption of the one or more data packets is executed at one or more layers different from the application layer402of the network architecture400at the first communication device104A.

At620, an event may be triggered in the communication network106based on the validated defined signature and the absence of the copyright violation for the digital asset. The triggering of the event in the communication network106may include one or more sub-operations620A,620B, and620C. At620A, a new event may be triggered in the distributed ledger114of the blockchain422(i.e., the DLSC system108) at the one or more layers of the network architecture400different from the application layer402of the network architecture400. At620B, a smart contract (e.g., a smart contract112aof the smart contract system112) associated with the blockchain422may be triggered at the one or more layers of the network architecture400different from the application layer402of the network architecture400. At620C, one or more predefined actions defined in the main action database102A may be triggered when the defined signature associated with the digital asset is validated as well as when the occurrence of the copyright violation is negative.

At622, a log may be generated of a start time and an end time of the event and associated action or the interruption of the one or more data packets of the digital asset from being consumed at the first communication device104A. The processor202may be further configured to generate the log of the start time and the end time of the event and associated action or the interruption of the one or more data packets of the digital asset.

In an implementation, the method, and the communication devices, such as the first communication device104A and the cloud server102, of the present disclosure may be suitable for various low latency mission critical applications, in which the verification of the defined signature416and the triggering of events are enabled on-the-fly using the ecosystem100. Examples of the low latency mission critical applications may include, but not limited to in the areas of entertainment, multimedia, gaming, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), shared virtual environment (e.g., metaverse), real-time video conferencing, vehicle to everything (V2X), teleoperated driving, telecommunication based services, and drones operated through mobile networks.

Various embodiments of the disclosure may provide a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon, computer-implemented instructions that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to execute operations to obtain a defined signature416from the first communication device104A, where the defined signature416may be associated with a digital asset at the first communication device104A. The operations further include validating the defined signature416based on a search of the defined signature in a main action database102A in the cloud server102. The operations further include determining that a copyright check is required for the digital asset associated with the defined signature416. The operations further include determining an occurrence of a copyright violation for the digital asset based on a resemblance search of the digital asset in a copyright database accessible by the cloud server102. The operations further include interrupting one or more data packets of the digital asset from being consumed at the first communication device104A based on the occurrence of the copyright violation determined for the digital asset, where the interruption of the one or more data packets is executed at one or more layers different from the application layer402of the network architecture400at the first communication device104A.

Various embodiments of the disclosure may include the cloud server102that comprises the processor202. The processor202may be configured to obtain a defined signature416from the first communication device104A, where the defined signature416may be associated with a digital asset at the first communication device104A. The processor202may be further configured to validate the defined signature416based on a search of the defined signature in a main action database102A in the cloud server102. The processor202may be further configured to determine that a copyright check is required for the digital asset associated with the defined signature416. The processor202may be further configured to determine an occurrence of a copyright violation for the digital asset based on a resemblance search of the digital asset in a copyright database accessible by the cloud server102. The processor202may be further configured to interrupt one or more data packets of the digital asset from being consumed at the first communication device104A based on the occurrence of the copyright violation determined for the digital asset, where the interruption of the one or more data packets is executed at one or more layers different from the application layer402of the network architecture400at the first communication device104A.

While various embodiments described in the present disclosure have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example, and not limitation. It is to be understood that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition to using hardware (e.g., within or coupled to a central processing unit (“CPU”), microprocessor, micro controller, digital signal processor, processor core, system on chip (“SOC”) or any other device), implementations may also be embodied in software (e.g. computer readable code, program code, and/or instructions disposed in any form, such as source, object or machine language) disposed for example in a non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to store the software. Such software can enable, for example, the function, fabrication, modeling, simulation, description and/or testing of the apparatus and methods describe herein. For example, this can be accomplished through the use of general program languages (e.g., C, C++), hardware description languages (HDL) including Verilog HDL, VHDL, and so on, or other available programs. Such software can be disposed in any known non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as semiconductor, magnetic disc, or optical disc (e.g., CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, etc.). The software can also be disposed as computer data embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable transmission medium (e.g., solid state memory or any other non-transitory medium including digital, optical, analog-based medium, such as removable storage media). Embodiments of the present disclosure may include methods of providing the apparatus described herein by providing software describing the apparatus and subsequently transmitting the software as a computer data signal over a communication network including the internet and intranets.

It is to be further understood that the system described herein may be included in a semiconductor intellectual property core, such as a microcontroller (e.g., embodied in HDL) and transformed to hardware in the production of integrated circuits. Additionally, the system described herein may be embodied as a combination of hardware and software. Thus, the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.