Patent Publication Number: US-2023144697-A1

Title: Patent licensing method utilizing a distributed ledger infrastructure

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present U.S. Utility Patent application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/276,120, entitled “PATENT LICENSING DISTRIBUTED LEDGER INFRASTRUCTURE AND METHOD THEREOF” filed Nov. 5, 2021, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility Patent Application for all purposes. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to systems and infrastructures that utilize technology described in patents and more particularly to automatically licensing patents to enable usage of the patented technology. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Usage of patented technology includes drafting and computing license agreements manually. Such licensing agreements can be quite complex and time-consuming to draft and execute. Non-fungible token based distributed ledgers are becoming popular to provide clear title to assets. A need exists to improve the ability to license the technology of patents to solve these problems. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG.  1 A  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a computing infrastructure in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIGS.  1 B and  1 C  are schematic block diagrams of organization of patent distributed ledgers in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  1 D  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a blockchain associated with a patent distributed ledger in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  1 E  is a schematic block diagram of a data structure for a smart contract in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  2 A  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a computing entity of a computing system in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  2 B  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a computing device of a computing system in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a computing device of a computing system in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an environment sensor module of a computing system in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIGS.  5 A- 5 C  are schematic block diagrams of an embodiment of a computing infrastructure illustrating an example of establishing a non-fungible token for a set of patents in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIGS.  6 A- 6 C  are schematic block diagrams of an embodiment of a computing infrastructure illustrating an example of establishing a license for a set of patents in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIGS.  7 A- 7 C  are schematic block diagrams of an embodiment of a computing infrastructure illustrating another example of establishing a license for a set of patents in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIGS.  8 A- 8 C  are schematic block diagrams of an embodiment of a computing infrastructure illustrating another example of establishing a license for a set of patents in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIGS.  9 A- 9 C  are schematic block diagrams of an embodiment of a computing infrastructure illustrating another example of establishing a license for a set of patents in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG.  1 A  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a computing infrastructure  10  that includes computing entities  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and computing sub-systems  12 - 1  through  12 -N. The computing sub-systems includes computing entities  26 - 1  through  26 -N, computing entities  28 - 1  through  28 -N, and computing entities  30 - 1  through  30 -N. Each computing entity of the computing infrastructure includes a control module  32  and a database  34 . Among other things, the database  34  is utilized to store at least one representation of a blockchain  36  and at least one representation of a smart contract  38 . 
     In an embodiment, each computing and sub-system corresponds to a specialty coalition around a market type or other. For example, a first computing sub-system  12 - 1  is associated with a payment system, a second computing sub-system  12 - 2  is associated with a supply chain system. Other market type examples include transportation, agriculture, finance, investing, government, education, research, etc. 
     In an example embodiment, the computing entity  20  is associated with a patent owner computing device, the computing entity  22  is associated with a patent office computing device, and the computing entity  24  is associated with a broker computing device. Further in the example embodiment, the computing entities  26 - 1  through  26 -N are associated with user computing devices and the computing entities  28 - 1  through  28 -N are associated with reporting computing devices of one of the computing sub-systems  12 - 1  through  12 -N. Still further in the example embodiment, the computing entities  30 - 1  through  30 -N are associated with blockchain nodes and serve one or more of the computing sub-system  12 - 1  through  12 -N. Such blockchain nodes store, manipulate, and verified blockchains that provide immutable ledgers for crypto currencies, non-fungible tokens, and other assets. 
     The computing entities of the computing infrastructure  10  communicate with each other by way of one or more private intranets and one or more public internets. Generally, the computing entity  24 , when operating as the broker computing device, communicates setup messages  4  with the computing entity  20 , when operating as the patent owner computing device, and communicates further setup messages  4  with the computing entity  22 , when operating as the patent office computing device. The setup messages  4  includes various messages to register patents for licensing as is described below. 
     Further generally, the computing entity  24  communicates use messages  6  with the computing sub-systems, where the use messages  6  establish a patent license and facilitate utilization of the patent license. Still further generally, the computing entities  30 - 1  through  30 -N of the various blockchains communicate transaction messages  8  with the computing entities  26 - 1  through  26 -N, when operating as the user computing devices, and communicate the transaction messages  8  with the computing entities  28 - 1  through  28 -N, when operating as the reporting computing devices. The transaction messages  8  carry out activities that rely on the use of licensed patents. 
     In an example of operation, the computing entity  20  exchanges setup messages  4  with the computing entity  24  to request that a new nonfungible token be added to a patent ledger for a set of patents to be licensed. The computing entity  24  exchanges setup messages  4  with the computing entity  22  to verify (e.g., with a governmental patent office) validity of the patents to be licensed. When validated, the computing entity  24  exchanges use messages  6  with at least some of the computing entities  30 - 1  through  30 -N to add the new non-fungible token for the set of patents to a patent ledger stored by the blockchain nodes. 
     In another example of operation, the computing entity  26 - 1  exchanges use messages  6  with the computing entity  24  to request utilization of technology of a set of patents. The computing entity  24  generates a smart contract in accordance with previous smart contract guidance associated with the set of patents. The computing entity  24  exchanges use messages  6  with one or more of the computing entities  30 - 1  through  30 -N to add a new smart contract to an existing patent distributed ledger. 
     In yet another example of operation, the computing entity  28 - 1  determines that the computing entity  26 - 1  is likely to require a license to utilize technology of the set of patents. The computing entity  28 - 1  exchanges use messages  6  with the computing entity  24  to initiate establishment of a license of the technology of the set of patents for the computing entity  26 - 1  when such a license had not previously existed for the computing entity  26 - 1 . The computing entity  24  exchanges use messages  6  with one or more of the computing entities  30 - 1  through  30 -N to add a new smart contract to an existing patent distributed ledger. 
       FIGS.  1 B and  1 C  are schematic block diagrams of organization of patent distributed ledgers.  FIG.  1 B  illustrates an example where a single blockchain serves as the patent distributed ledger linking a series of blocks of the blockchain, where each block is associated with a different license for a set of patents associated with a non-fungible token.  FIG.  1 C  illustrates another example where a first blockchain links a series of blocks of different non-fungible tokens for different sets of patents. Each block forms a blockchain of its own where each further block of its own is associated with a different license for the set of patents of the non-fungible token. 
       FIG.  1 D  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of content blockchain of a patent distributed ledger, where the content includes the smart contract as previously discussed. The content blockchain includes a plurality of blocks  2 - 4 . Each block includes a header section and a transaction section. The header section includes one or more of a nonce, a hash of a preceding block of the blockchain, where the preceding block was under control of a preceding device (e.g., a broker computing device, a user computing device, a blockchain node computing device, etc.) in a chain of control of the blockchain, and a hash of a current block (e.g., a current transaction section), where the current block is under control of a current device in the chain of control of the blockchain. 
     The transaction section includes one or more of a public key of the current device, a signature of the preceding device, smart contract content, change of control from the preceding device to the current device, and content information from the previous block as received by the previous device plus content added by the previous device when transferring the current block to the current device. 
       FIG.  1 D  further includes devices  2 - 3  to facilitate illustration of generation of the blockchain. Each device includes a hash function, a signature function, and storage for a public/private key pair generated by the device. 
     An example of operation of the generating of the blockchain, when the device  2  has control of the blockchain and is passing control of the blockchain to the device  3  (e.g., the device  3  is transacting a transfer of content from device  2 ), the device  2  obtains the device  3  public key from device  3 , performs a hash function  2  over the device  3  public key and the transaction  2  to produce a hashing resultant (e.g., preceding transaction to device  2 ) and performs a signature function  2  over the hashing resultant utilizing a device  2  private key to produce a device  2  signature. 
     Having produced the device  2  signature, the device  2  generates the transaction  3  to include the device  3  public key, the device  2  signature, device  3  content request to 2 information, and the previous content plus content from device  2 . The device  3  content request to device  2  information includes one or more of a detailed content request, a query request, background content, and specific instructions from device  3  to device  2  for access to a patent license. The previous content plus content from device  2  includes one or more of content from an original source, content from any subsequent source after the original source, an identifier of a source of content, a serial number of the content, an expiration date of the content, content utilization rules, and results of previous blockchain validations. 
     Having produced the transaction  3  section of the block  3  a processing module (e.g., of the device  2 , of the device  3 , of a transaction mining server, of another server, generates the header section by performing a hashing function over the transaction section  3  to produce a transaction  3  hash, performing the hashing function over the preceding block (e.g., block  2 ) to produce a block  2  hash. The performing of the hashing function may include generating a nonce such that when performing the hashing function to include the nonce of the header section, a desired characteristic of the resulting hash is achieved (e.g., a desired number of preceding zeros is produced in the resulting hash). 
     Having produced the block  3 , the device  2  sends the block  3  to the device  3 , where the device  3  initiates control of the blockchain. Having received the block  3 , the device  3  validates the received block  3 . The validating includes one or more of verifying the device  2  signature over the preceding transaction section (e.g., transaction  2 ) and the device  3  public key utilizing the device  2  public key (e.g., a re-created signature function result compares favorably to device  2  signature) and verifying that an extracted device  3  public key of the transaction  3  compares favorably to the device  3  public key held by the device  3 . The device  3  considers the received block  3  validated when the verifications are favorable (e.g., the authenticity of the associated content is trusted). 
       FIG.  1 E  is a schematic block diagram of a data structure for a smart contract  200  that includes patent set information  202  and license terms  204 . The patent set information  202  includes patent basics, available license terms, and available patent terms.  FIG.  1 E  illustrates examples of each category of the patent set information  202 . 
     The license terms  204  includes licensee information, agreed license terms, and agreed payment terms.  FIG.  1 E  further illustrates examples of each of the categories of the license terms  204 . 
       FIG.  2 A  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the computing entity (e.g.,  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 - 1  through  26 -N,  28 - 1  through  28 -N, and  30 - 1  through  30 -N) of the computing infrastructure of  FIG.  1   . The computing entity includes one or more computing devices  100 - 1  through  100 -N. A computing device is any electronic device that communicates data, processes data, represents data (e.g., user interface) and/or stores data. 
     Computing devices include portable computing devices and fixed computing devices. Examples of portable computing devices include an embedded controller, a smart sensor, a social networking device, a gaming device, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a video game controller, and/or any other portable device that includes a computing core. Examples of fixed computing devices includes a personal computer, a computer server, a cable set-top box, a fixed display device, an appliance, and industrial controller, a video game counsel, a home entertainment controller, a critical infrastructure controller, and/or any type of home, office or cloud computing equipment that includes a computing core. 
       FIG.  2 B  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a computing device (e.g.,  100 - 1  through  100 -N) of the computing entity of  FIG.  2 A  that includes one or more computing cores  52 - 1  through  52 -N, a memory module  102 , a human interface module  18 , an environment sensor module  14 , and an input/output (I/O) module  104 . In alternative embodiments, the human interface module  18 , the environment sensor module  14 , the I/O module  104 , and the memory module  102  may be standalone (e.g., external to the computing device). An embodiment of the computing device is discussed in greater detail with reference to  FIG.  3   . 
       FIG.  3    is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of the computing device  100 - 1  of the mechanical and computing infrastructure of  FIG.  1    that includes the human interface module  18 , the environment sensor module  14 , the computing core  52 - 1 , the memory module  102 , and the I/O module  104 . The human interface module  18  includes one or more visual output devices  74  (e.g., video graphics display, 3-D viewer, touchscreen, LED, etc.), one or more visual input devices  80  (e.g., a still image camera, a video camera, a 3-D video camera, photocell, etc.), and one or more audio output devices  78  (e.g., speaker(s), headphone jack, a motor, etc.). The human interface module  18  further includes one or more user input devices  76  (e.g., keypad, keyboard, touchscreen, voice to text, a push button, a microphone, a card reader, a door position switch, a biometric input device, etc.) and one or more motion output devices  106  (e.g., servos, motors, lifts, pumps, actuators, anything to get real-world objects to move). 
     The computing core  52 - 1  includes a video graphics module  54 , one or more processing modules  50 - 1  through  50 -N, a memory controller  56 , one or more main memories  58 - 1  through  58 -N (e.g., RAM), one or more input/output (I/O) device interface modules  62 , an input/output (I/O) controller  60 , and a peripheral interface  64 . A processing module is as defined at the end of the detailed description. 
     The memory module  102  includes a memory interface module  70  and one or more memory devices, including flash memory devices  92 , hard drive (HD) memory  94 , solid state (SS) memory  96 , and cloud memory  98 . The cloud memory  98  includes an on-line storage system and an on-line backup system. 
     The I/O module  104  includes a network interface module  72 , a peripheral device interface module  68 , and a universal serial bus (USB) interface module  66 . Each of the I/O device interface module  62 , the peripheral interface  64 , the memory interface module  70 , the network interface module  72 , the peripheral device interface module  68 , and the USB interface modules  66  includes a combination of hardware (e.g., connectors, wiring, etc.) and operational instructions stored on memory (e.g., driver software) that are executed by one or more of the processing modules  50 - 1  through  50 -N and/or a processing circuit within the particular module. 
     The I/O module  104  further includes one or more wireless location modems  84  (e.g., global positioning satellite (GPS), Wi-Fi, angle of arrival, time difference of arrival, signal strength, dedicated wireless location, etc.) and one or more wireless communication modems  86  (e.g., a cellular network transceiver, a wireless data network transceiver, a Wi-Fi transceiver, a Bluetooth transceiver, a 315 MHz transceiver, a zig bee transceiver, a 60 GHz transceiver, etc.). The I/O module  104  further includes a telco interface  108  (e.g., to interface to a public switched telephone network), a wired local area network (LAN)  88  (e.g., optical, electrical), and a wired wide area network (WAN)  90  (e.g., optical, electrical). The I/O module  104  further includes one or more peripheral devices (e.g., peripheral devices  1 -P) and one or more universal serial bus (USB) devices (USB devices  1 -U). In other embodiments, the computing device  100 - 1  may include more or less devices and modules than shown in this example embodiment. 
       FIG.  4    is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the environment sensor module  14  of the computing device of  FIG.  2 B  that includes a sensor interface module  120  to output environment sensor information  150  based on information communicated with a set of sensors. The set of sensors includes a visual sensor  122  (e.g., to the camera, 3-D camera, 360° view camera, a camera array, an optical spectrometer, etc.) and an audio sensor  124  (e.g., a microphone, a microphone array). The set of sensors further includes a motion sensor  126  (e.g., a solid-state Gyro, a vibration detector, a laser motion detector) and a position sensor  128  (e.g., a Hall effect sensor, an image detector, a GPS receiver, a radar system). 
     The set of sensors further includes a scanning sensor  130  (e.g., CAT scan, Mill, x-ray, ultrasound, radio scatter, particle detector, laser measure, further radar) and a temperature sensor  132  (e.g., thermometer, thermal coupler). The set of sensors further includes a humidity sensor  134  (resistance based, capacitance based) and an altitude sensor  136  (e.g., pressure based, GPS-based, laser-based). 
     The set of sensors further includes a biosensor  138  (e.g., enzyme, microbial) and a chemical sensor  140  (e.g., mass spectrometer, gas, polymer). The set of sensors further includes a magnetic sensor  142  (e.g., Hall effect, piezo electric, coil, magnetic tunnel junction) and any generic sensor  144  (e.g., including a hybrid combination of two or more of the other sensors). 
       FIGS.  5 A- 5 C  are schematic block diagrams of an embodiment of a computing infrastructure illustrating an example of establishing a non-fungible token for a set of patents. The computing infrastructure includes the computing entity  20  of  FIG.  1   , the computing entity  22  of  FIG.  1   , the computing entity  24  of  FIG.  1   , and the computing entities  30 - 1  through  30 -N of  FIG.  1    serving as blockchain nodes for the patent distributed ledger. A portion of the patent distributed ledger is illustrated to include a plurality of patent nonfungible tokens (NFT) and associated license blocks. 
       FIG.  5 A  illustrates an example of operation of the method of establishing the non-fungible token for the set of patents. A first step of the example of operation includes the computing entity  24  interpreting a request (e.g., set up message  4 ) from a patent owner computing device of the computing infrastructure to make available for licensing a set of patents to produce patent basics of a smart contract for the set of patents. In the example, the computing entity  20  includes the patent owner computing device and the computing entity  24  includes the broker computing device. The patent basics include a patent set identifier, a patent number of at least one patent number of the set of patents, and at least one patent owner identifier associated with the set of patents. 
     The interpreting the request to make available for licensing the set of patents to produce the patent basics of the smart contract includes one or more approaches of a variety of approaches. A first approach includes identifying a set of patent numbers for the set of patents. For example, the computing entity  24  identifies the set of patent numbers from the set up message  4  from the computing entity  20 . A second approach includes generating the patent set identifier based on the set of patent numbers. For example, the computing entity  24  hashes the set of patent numbers to produce the patent set identifier. As another example, the computing entity  24  lists each patent number of the set of patent numbers in an aggregation to produce the patent set identifier. 
     A third approach includes identifying a set of patent owner identifiers associated with the set of patents. For example, the computing entity  24  interprets assignee information of the set up message  4  to produce the set of patent owner identifiers. As another example, the computing entity  24  interprets applicant information of the set up message  4  to produce the set of patent owner identifiers. As yet another example, the computing entity  24  extracts the set of patent owner identifiers directly from the set up message  4 . 
     A fourth approach includes determining a set of application areas for the set of patents. Each application area describes how technology associated with a corresponding patent is applied in practice. For example, the computing entity  24  extracts the set of application areas directly from the set up message  4 . As another example, the computing entity  24  interprets a set of abstracts associated with the set of patents to identify the application areas for the set of patents. As yet another example, the computing entity  24  interprets a set of claims associated with the set of patents to identify the application areas for the set of patents. 
     A fifth approach includes identifying, for each patent of the set of patents, a corresponding patent issuance office. For example, the computing entity  24  interprets the set of patents to identify the corresponding patent issuance office. For instance, the computing entity  24  identifies the US patent and trademark office as the corresponding patent issuance office when a particular patent is a US patent. 
     A sixth approach includes identifying, for each patent of the set of patents, an expiration date of the patent. For example, the computing entity  24  interprets the set of patents to identify expiration date of each patent of the set of patents. 
     Having produce the patent basics for the smart contract, a second step of the example method of operation of establishing the non-fungible token for the set of patents includes the computing entity  24  verifying with a patent issuance computing device of the computing infrastructure, validity of the patent basics. In the example, the computing entity  22  includes the patent issuance computing device. The verifying the validity of the patent basics includes a series of sub-steps. A first sub-step includes identifying the patent issuance computing device based on a first identified corresponding patent issuance office of the patent basics for a first patent of the set of patents. For example, the computing entity  24  identifies an IP address, or other access means, associated with a portal of the US patent office when the patent issuance office is the US patent and trademark office. 
     A second sub-step includes obtaining patent issuance information from the patent issuance computing device for the first patent of the set of patents. For example, the computing entity  24  extracts the first patent from a set up message  4  from the computing entity  22 . A third sub-step includes indicating that the patent basics is valid for the first patent when the patent issuance information is substantially the same as the patent basics for the first patent. For example, the computing entity  24  compares each aspect of the patent basics to retrieved patents from the computing entity  22  and indicates that the patent basics is valid when the comparison indicates that the patent basics matches the retrieved patents (e.g., same title, patent number, expiration date, claims, applicant, assignee, abstract, etc.). 
       FIG.  5 B  further illustrates the example of operation, where having verified the patent basics of the smart contract, when the patent basics are valid, a third step of the example method of operation of the establishing the non-fungible token for the set of patents includes the computing entity  24  establishing available license terms of the smart contract for the set of patents. The establishing the available license terms of the smart contract for the set of patents includes a series of sub-steps. A first sub-step includes establishing baseline available license terms from a terms template. For example, the computing entity  24  recovers the terms template from the database  34  of the computing entity  24 . As another example, the computing entity  24  interprets a set up message number  4  from the computing entity  20  that includes the terms template (e.g., from a patent owner). 
     A second sub-step includes modifying the baseline available license terms based on the patent basics to produce proposed available license terms. For example, the computing entity  24  changes one or more items of the baseline available license terms based on facts of the patent basics to produce the proposed available license terms. For instance, a license timeframe is filled in based on a patent expiration date. 
     A third sub-step includes determining whether the proposed available license terms are acceptable to a set of owners associated with the set of patents. For example, the computing entity  24  compares the proposed available license terms to a maximum acceptable set of license terms recovered from the database  34  of the computing entity  24 . As another example, the computing entity  24  interprets a set up message  4  from the computing entity  20  in response to presenting the proposed available license terms to the set of owners (e.g., in an authorization request sent to the computing entity  20 ). 
     A fourth sub-step includes establishing the proposed available license terms as the available license terms for the smart contract when the proposed available license terms are acceptable to the set of owners. For example, the computing entity  24  indicates that the proposed available license terms are the available license terms when determining that the proposed available license terms are acceptable to the set of owners. 
     Having established the available license terms for the smart contract, a fourth step of the example method of operation of the establishing the non-fungible token for the set of patents includes the computing entity  24  establishing available payment terms of the smart contract for the set of patents. The establishing the available payment terms of the smart contract for the set of patents includes a series of sub-steps. A first sub-step includes establishing baseline available payment terms from the terms template. For example, the computing entity  24  recovers the terms template from the database  34  of the computing entity  24  and extracts the available payment terms from the terms template. As another example, the computing entity  24  interprets a set up message number  4  from the computing entity  20  that includes the baseline available payment terms (e.g., from one or more patent owners). 
     A second sub-step includes modifying the baseline available payment terms based on the patent basics to produce proposed available payment terms. For example, the computing entity  24  changes one or more items of the baseline available payment terms based on facts of the patent basics to produce the proposed available payment terms. For instance, a payment timeframe is filled in based on a particular patent expiration date. 
     A third sub-step includes determining whether the proposed available payment terms are acceptable to a set of owners associated with the set of patents. For example, the computing entity  24  compares the proposed available payment terms to a minimum acceptable set of payment terms recovered from the database  34  of the computing entity  24 . As another example, the computing entity  24  interprets a set up message  4  from the computing entity  20  in response to presenting the proposed available payment terms to the set of owners (e.g., in a payment approval request sent to the computing entity  20 ). 
     A fourth sub-step includes establishing the proposed available payment terms as the available payment terms for the smart contract when the proposed available payment terms are acceptable to the set of owners. For example, the computing entity  24  indicates that the proposed available payment terms are the available payment terms when determining that the proposed available payment terms are acceptable to the set of owners (e.g., by prestored minimum requirements, by instant approval). 
       FIG.  5 C  further illustrates the example method of operation, where having produced the smart contract, a fifth step of the example method of operation of the establishing of the nonfungible token for the set of patents includes the computing entity  24  causing generation of the non-fungible token associated with the smart contract in the patent distributed ledger. The causing the generation of the non-fungible token associated with the smart contract in the patent distributed ledger includes determining whether to indirectly or directly update the patent distributed ledger. For example, the computing entity  24  determines to indirectly update the patent distributed ledger when the computing entity  24  does not have a satisfactory direct access to the patent distributed ledger. As another example, the computing entity  24  determines to directly update the patent distributed ledger when a predetermination stored in the database  34  indicates to directly access the patent distributed ledger when possible. 
     When indirectly updating the patent distributed ledger, the causing the generation includes the computing entity  24  issuing a non-fungible token generation request to a patent ledger computing device serving as a blockchain node of the patent distributed ledger. The non-fungible token generation request includes the smart contract. For example, the computing entity  24  issues a use message  6  to the computing entity  30 - 1 , where the use message  6  includes the request. In response, the computing entity  30 - 1  adds a new non-fungible token listing to the patent distributed ledger (e.g., as illustrated by patent NFT  3  in the example of  FIG.  5 C ). 
     When directly updating the patent distributed ledger, the causing the generation includes the computing entity  24  performing a series of sub-steps. A first sub-step includes obtaining a copy of the patent distributed ledger. For example, the computing entity  24  extracts the patent distributed ledger from a use message  6  from the computing entity  30 - 1 . As another example, the computing entity  24  recovers the patent distributed ledger from the blockchain  36  of the database  34  of the computing entity  24 . 
     A second sub-step includes hashing the smart contract utilizing a receiving public key of the patent distributed ledger to produce a next transaction hash value. For example, the computing entity  24  obtains a suitable receiving public key (e.g., from a current version of the blockchain, from a blockchain node, from a computing entity  20 ) and performs the hashing function to produce the next transaction hash value. 
     A third sub-step includes encrypting the next transaction hash value utilizing a private key of the broker computing device to produce a next transaction signature. For example, the computing entity  24  recovers a private key associated with the computing entity  24  and utilizes the recovered private key to encrypt the next transaction hash value to produce the next transaction signature. 
     A fourth sub-step includes generating a next block of a blockchain of the patent distributed ledger to include the smart contract and the next transaction signature. For example, the computing entity  24  generates the next block as previously discussed with regards to  FIG.  1 D  to include the smart contract and the next transaction signature. 
     A fifth sub-step includes causing inclusion of the next block as the non-fungible token in the patent distributed ledger. For example, the computing entity  24  appends the next block of the blockchain in the patent distributed ledger as previously discussed with reference to  FIG.  1 D  to update the patent distributed ledger as illustrated in  FIG.  5 C , where the non-fungible token patent NFT  3  is represented by the next block  3 . 
     The method described above in conjunction with a processing module of any computing entity of the computing infrastructure of  FIG.  1    can alternatively be performed by other modules of the system of  FIG.  1    or by other devices. In addition, at least one memory section that is non-transitory (e.g., a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, a non-transitory computer readable memory organized into a first memory element, a second memory element, a third memory element, a fourth element section, a fifth memory element, a sixth memory element, etc.) that stores operational instructions can, when executed by one or more processing modules of the one or more computing entities of the computing system  10 , cause one or more computing devices of  FIG.  1    to perform any or all of the method steps described above. 
       FIGS.  6 A- 6 C  are schematic block diagrams of an embodiment of a computing infrastructure illustrating an example of establishing a license for a set of patents utilizing a non-fungible token. The computing infrastructure includes the computing entity  20  of  FIG.  1   , the computing entity  22  of  FIG.  1   , the computing entity  24  of  FIG.  1   , the computing entities  26 - 1  through  26 -N of  FIG.  1   , and the computing entities  30 - 1  through  30 -N of  FIG.  1    serving as blockchain nodes for the patent distributed ledger. A portion of the patent distributed ledger is illustrated to include a plurality of patent nonfungible tokens (NFT) and associated license blocks. 
       FIG.  6 A  illustrates an example of operation of the method of establishing the license for the set of patents utilizing the non-fungible token. A first step of the example of operation includes the computing entity  24  interpreting a request from a user computing device of the computing infrastructure to license a set of patents to produce licensee information of a smart contract for the set of patents. The licensee information includes a licensee identifier and an identifier of the set of patents. For example, the computing entity  24  receives a use message  6  from the computing entity  26 - 1 , where the use message  6  includes the request to license the set of patents. Having received the use message  6 , the computing entity  24  interprets the use message  6  to extract the licensee information (e.g., the licensee identifier, the identifier of the set of patents, desired licensing terms). 
     The receiving of the use message  6  by the computing entity  24  includes the computing entity  26 - 1  issuing the use message  6 . The issuing of the use message  6  includes determining to generate and send the use message  6 . The determining to generate and send includes identifying a need to license the set of patents. The identifying the need to license the set of patents includes at least one of accessing another computing entity that indicates the need to license, executing software within the computing entity  26 - 1  that indicates the need to license, and determining that the computing entity  26 - 1  may need to perform a function related to a technology application area associated with the set of patents. 
     Having interpreted the request to license the set of patents, the example method of operation to establish the license for the set of patents utilizing the non-fungible token includes a second step where the computing entity  24  determines whether a non-fungible token associated with the set of patents is available (e.g., already exists in the patent distributed ledger). The non-fungible token includes a smart contract for the set of patents. The smart contract includes one or more of patent basics of the set of patents, available license terms, and available payment terms. 
     The determining whether the non-fungible token is available includes a variety of approaches. A first approach includes the computing entity  24  obtaining the blockchain of the patent distributed ledger and attempting to identify the non-fungible token. For example, the computing entity  24  recovers the patent distributed ledger from the blockchain  36  of the database  34  of the computing entity  24  when the patent distribute and ledger is stored by the computing entity  24 . As another example, the computing entity  24  interprets a use message  6  from the computing entity  30 - 1  which serves as a blockchain node storing a copy of the patent distribute and ledger. The computing entity  24  indicates that the nonfungible token is available when identifying a nonfungible token of the patent distributed ledger that compares favorably to the set of patents. For instance, the computing entity  24  identifies patent non-fungible token (NFT)  3  of the blockchain as illustrated in  FIG.  6 A  when NFT  3  matches the set of patents. 
       FIG.  6 B  further illustrates the example method of operation to establish the license for the set of patents, where having determined whether the nonfungible token is available, when the non-fungible token for the set of patents is available, a third step includes the computing entity  24  establishing agreed license terms based on the available license terms of the set of patents to update the smart contract to produce a new smart contract. 
     The establishing the agreed license terms for the new smart contract for the set of patents includes a series of sub-steps. A first sub-step includes obtaining the available license terms from one or more of the smart contract of the nonfungible token and a terms template recovered from the database  34 . For example, the computing entity  24  recovers the terms template from the database  34  of the computing entity  24 . As another example, the computing entity  24  extracts the available license terms from the smart contract  38 . 
     A second sub-step includes modifying the available license terms based on the request to license the set of patents to produce proposed agreed license terms. For example, the computing entity  24  fills in one or more items of the available license terms based on facts of the request to license to produce the proposed agreed license terms. For instance, a license geography is filled in based on a geographic area of the request to license that is compatible with available licensing geography. 
     A third sub-step includes determining whether the proposed agreed license terms are acceptable to a set of owners associated with the set of patents. For example, the computing entity  24  compares the proposed agreed license terms to a maximum acceptable set of license terms recovered from the database  34  of the computing entity  24 . As another example, the computing entity  24  interprets a set up message  4  from the computing entity  20  in response to presenting the proposed agreed license terms to the set of owners (e.g., in a deal approval request sent to the computing entity  20 ). 
     A fourth sub-step includes establishing the proposed agreed license terms as the agreed license terms for the new smart contract when the proposed agreed license terms are acceptable to the set of owners. For example, the computing entity  24  indicates that the proposed agreed license terms are the agreed license terms when determining that the proposed agreed license terms are acceptable to the set of owners. 
     Having established the agreed license terms for the new smart contract, a fourth step of the example method of operation of the licensing of the set of patents includes the computing entity  24  establishing agreed payment terms of the new smart contract for the set of patents. The establishing the agreed payment terms of the new smart contract for the set of patents includes a series of sub-steps. A first sub-step includes obtaining baseline agreed payment terms from at least one of the smart contract and the terms template. For example, the computing entity  24  recovers the terms template from the database  34  of the computing entity  24  and extracts the baseline agreed payment terms from the terms template. As another example, the computing entity  24  interprets a set up message number  4  from the computing entity  20  that includes the baseline agreed payment terms (e.g., from one or more patent owners). As yet another example, the computing entity  24  extracts the available payment terms directly from the smart contract recovered from the patent distributed ledger to produce the baseline agreed payment terms. 
     A second sub-step includes modifying the baseline agreed payment terms based on the request to license to produce proposed agreed payment terms. For example, the computing entity  24  changes one or more items of the baseline agreed payment terms based on facts of the request to license to produce the proposed agreed payment terms. For instance, a fully paid license (e.g., up front payment) is selected based on a desire expressed in the request to license. 
     A third sub-step includes determining whether the proposed agreed payment terms are acceptable to a set of owners associated with the set of patents. For example, the computing entity  24  compares the proposed agreed payment terms to a minimum acceptable set of payment terms recovered from the database  34  of the computing entity  24 . As another example, the computing entity  24  interprets a set up message  4  from the computing entity  20  in response to presenting the proposed agreed payment terms to the set of owners (e.g., in a payment approval request sent to the computing entity  20 ). 
     A fourth sub-step includes establishing the proposed agreed payment terms as the agreed payment terms for the new smart contract when the proposed agreed payment terms are acceptable to the set of owners. For example, the computing entity  24  indicates that the proposed agreed payment terms are the agreed payment terms when determining that the proposed agreed payment terms are acceptable to the set of owners (e.g., by prestored minimum requirements, by instant approval). 
       FIG.  6 C  further illustrates the example of operation, where having produced the smart contract, a fifth step of the example method of operation of the licensing of the set of patents includes the computing entity  24  generating a new block with the new smart contract for a blockchain of the patent distributed ledger associated with the non-fungible token. The generating the new block includes determining whether to indirectly or directly update the patent distributed ledger. For example, the computing entity  24  determines to indirectly update the patent distributed ledger when the computing entity  24  does not have a satisfactory direct access to the patent distributed ledger. As another example, the computing entity  24  determines to directly update the patent distributed ledger when a predetermination stored in the database  34  indicates to directly access the patent distributed ledger when possible. 
     When indirectly updating the patent distributed ledger, the generating of the block includes the computing entity  24  issuing a block generation request to a patent ledger computing device serving as a blockchain node of the patent distributed ledger. The block generation request includes the new smart contract. For example, the computing entity  24  issues a use message  6  to the computing entity  30 - 1 , where the use message  6  includes the request in the new smart contract. In response, the computing entity  30 - 1  adds a new block to the patent distributed ledger (e.g., as illustrated by license  1  within block  3 - 1  of patent NFT  3  in the example of  FIG.  6 C ). 
     When directly updating the patent distributed ledger, the causing the generation of the block includes the computing entity  24  performing a series of sub-steps. A first sub-step includes obtaining a copy of the patent distributed ledger. For example, the computing entity  24  extracts the patent distributed ledger from a use message  6  from the computing entity  30 - 1 . As another example, the computing entity  24  recovers the patent distributed ledger from the blockchain  36  of the database  34  of the computing entity  24 . 
     A second sub-step includes hashing the new smart contract utilizing a receiving public key of the patent distributed ledger to produce a next transaction hash value. For example, the computing entity  24  obtains a suitable receiving public key (e.g., from a current version of the blockchain, from a blockchain node, from a computing entity  20 ) and performs the hashing function to produce the next transaction hash value. 
     A third sub-step includes encrypting the next transaction hash value utilizing a private key of the broker computing device to produce a next transaction signature. For example, the computing entity  24  recovers a private key associated with the computing entity  24  and utilizes the recovered private key to encrypt the next transaction hash value to produce the next transaction signature. 
     A fourth sub-step includes generating a next block (e.g., block  3 - 1 ) of a blockchain of the patent distributed ledger to include the new smart contract and the next transaction signature. For example, the computing entity  24  generates the next block as previously discussed with regards to  FIG.  1 D  to include the new smart contract and the next transaction signature. 
     A fifth sub-step includes causing inclusion of the next block in the patent distributed ledger. For example, the computing entity  24  appends the next block of the blockchain in the patent distributed ledger as previously discussed with reference to  FIG.  1 D  to update the patent distributed ledger as illustrated in  FIG.  6 C  by the license  1  of block  3 - 1  of NFT  3 . 
     The method described above in conjunction with a processing module of any computing entity of the computing infrastructure of  FIG.  1    can alternatively be performed by other modules of the system of  FIG.  1    or by other devices. In addition, at least one memory section that is non-transitory (e.g., a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, a non-transitory computer readable memory organized into a first memory element, a second memory element, a third memory element, a fourth element section, a fifth memory element, a sixth memory element, etc.) that stores operational instructions can, when executed by one or more processing modules of the one or more computing entities of the computing system  10 , cause one or more computing devices of  FIG.  1    to perform any or all of the method steps described above. 
       FIGS.  7 A- 7 C  are schematic block diagrams of an embodiment of a computing infrastructure illustrating another example of establishing a license for a set of patents. The computing infrastructure includes the computing entity  20  of  FIG.  1   , the computing entity  22  of  FIG.  1   , the computing entity  24  of  FIG.  1   , the computing entities  26 - 1  through  26 -N of  FIG.  1   , the computing entities  28 - 1  through  28 -N of  FIG.  1   , and the computing entities  30 - 1  through  30 -N of  FIG.  1    serving as blockchain nodes for the patent distributed ledger. A portion of the patent distributed ledger is illustrated to include a plurality of patent nonfungible tokens (NFT) and associated license blocks. In the example, the computing entities  28 - 1  through  28 -N serve as reporting computing devices. 
       FIG.  7 A  illustrates an example of operation of the method of establishing the license for the set of patents utilizing the patent distributed ledger. A first step of the example method of operation includes the reporting computing device identifying potential use of a set of patents by a user computing device of the computing infrastructure. The identifying includes one or more of interpreting a direct request by the user computing device to utilize technology of the set of patents, interpreting operations of the user computing device to identify utilization of the technology of the set of patents, and anticipating future operations of the user computing device to identify the utilization of the technology of the set appends. For example, the computing entity  28 - 1  interprets a transaction message  8  from the computing entity  26 - 1  to indicate the potential use of the set of patents by the computing entity  26 - 1  when the transaction message  8  is associated with utilization of the technology of the set of patents. 
     A second step of the example of operation includes the computing entity  24  interpreting a request from the reporting computing device to cause a license of the set of patents for use by the user computer device to produce licensee information of a smart contract for the set of patents. The licensee information includes a license identifier and an identifier of the set of patents. For example, the computing entity  24  receives a use message  6  from the computing entity  28 - 1  (e.g., the reporting computing device), where the use message  6  includes a request to license the set of patents to the computing entity  26 - 1 . Having received the use message  6 , the computing entity  24  interprets the use message  6  to extract the licensee information (e.g., the licensee identifier, the identifier of the set of patents, desired licensing terms, etc.). 
     The receiving of the use message  6  by the computing entity  24  includes the computing entity  28 - 1  issuing the use message  6 . The issuing of the use message  6  includes determining to generate and send the use message  6  when identifying the potential use of the set of patents. 
     Having interpreted the request to license the set of patents, the example method of operation to establish the license for the set of patents includes a third step where the computing entity  24  determines whether a non-fungible token associated with the second patents is licensed by the user computing device. The non-fungible token includes a smart contract for the set of patents. The smart contract includes one or more of patent basics of the set of patents, available license terms, available payment terms, agreed license terms, and agreed payment terms. 
     The determining whether the non-fungible token is license by the computing entity  26 - 1  includes a variety of approaches. A first approach includes the computing entity  24  obtaining the blockchain of the patent distributed ledger and attempting to identify the license block for the NFT. For example, the computing entity  24  recovers the patent distributed ledger from the blockchain  36  of the database  34  of the computing entity  24  when the patent distributed ledger is stored by the computing entity  24 . As another example, the computing entity  24  interprets a use message  6  from the computing entity  30 - 1  which serves as a blockchain node storing a copy of the patent distributed ledger. The computing entity  24  indicates that the user computing device has the license when identifying a non-fungible token of the patent distributed ledger that compares favorably to the set of patents and when a license block for the user computing device is associated with the NFT. 
     The computing entity  24  indicates that the user computing device does not have the license when either the NFT the set of patents doesn&#39;t exist or when the NFT does exist the license block for the user computing device does not exist or is defective. For instance, the computing entity  24  identifies patent non-fungible token (NFT)  2  of the blockchain as illustrated in  FIG.  7 A  when NFT  2  matches the set of patents, but indicates that the user computing device does not have a license when the only license  1  of block  2 - 1  for the NFT  2  is not associated with the computing entity  26 - 1  (e.g., the user computing device requiring the license to the set of patents). 
       FIG.  7 B  further illustrates the example method of operation to establish the license for the set of patents, where having determined whether the non-fungible token has been licensed by the user computing device, when the non-fungible token for the set of patents is available but not licensed by the user computing device, a fourth step includes the computing entity  24  establishing agreed license terms based on the available license terms of the set of patents to update the smart contract to produce a new smart contract. 
     The establishing the agreed license terms for the new smart contract for the set of patents includes a series of sub-steps. A first sub-step includes obtaining the available license terms from one or more of the smart contract of the non-fungible token and a terms template recovered from the database  34 . For example, the computing entity  24  recovers the terms template from the database  34  of the computing entity  24 . As another example, the computing entity  24  extracts the available license terms from the smart contract  38 . 
     A second sub-step includes modifying the available license terms based on the request to license the set of patents to produce proposed agreed license terms. For example, the computing entity  24  fills in one or more items of the available license terms based on facts of the request to license to produce the proposed agreed license terms. For instance, a license geography is filled in based on a geographic area of the request to license that is compatible with available licensing geography. 
     A third sub-step includes determining whether the proposed agreed license terms are acceptable to a set of owners associated with the set of patents. For example, the computing entity  24  compares the proposed agreed license terms to a maximum acceptable set of license terms recovered from the database  34  of the computing entity  24 . As another example, the computing entity  24  interprets a set up message  4  from the computing entity  20  in response to presenting the proposed agreed license terms to the set of owners (e.g., in a deal approval request sent to the computing entity  20 ). 
     A fourth sub-step includes establishing the proposed agreed license terms as the agreed license terms for the new smart contract when the proposed agreed license terms are acceptable to the set of owners. For example, the computing entity  24  indicates that the proposed agreed license terms are the agreed license terms when determining that the proposed agreed license terms are acceptable to the set of owners. 
     Having established the agreed license terms for the new smart contract, a fifth step of the example method of operation of the licensing of the set of patents includes the computing entity  24  establishing agreed payment terms of the new smart contract for the set of patents. The establishing the agreed payment terms of the new smart contract for the set of patents includes a series of sub-steps. A first sub-step includes obtaining baseline agreed payment terms from at least one of the smart contract and the terms template. For example, the computing entity  24  recovers the terms template from the database  34  of the computing entity  24  and extracts the baseline agreed payment terms from the terms template. As another example, the computing entity  24  interprets a set up message number  4  from the computing entity  20  that includes the baseline agreed payment terms (e.g., from one or more patent owners). As yet another example, the computing entity  24  extracts the available payment terms directly from the smart contract recovered from the patent distributed ledger to produce the baseline agreed payment terms. 
     A second sub-step includes modifying the baseline agreed payment terms based on the request to license to produce proposed agreed payment terms. For example, the computing entity  24  changes one or more items of the baseline agreed payment terms based on facts of the request to license to produce the proposed agreed payment terms. For instance, a pay-as-you-go license (e.g., percentage of sales revenue) is selected based on a desire expressed in the request to license. 
     A third sub-step includes determining whether the proposed agreed payment terms are acceptable to a set of owners associated with the set of patents. For example, the computing entity  24  compares the proposed agreed payment terms to a minimum acceptable set of payment terms recovered from the database  34  of the computing entity  24 . As another example, the computing entity  24  interprets a set up message  4  from the computing entity  20  in response to presenting the proposed agreed payment terms to the set of owners (e.g., in a payment approval request sent to the computing entity  20 ). 
     A fourth sub-step includes establishing the proposed agreed payment terms as the agreed payment terms for the new smart contract when the proposed agreed payment terms are acceptable to the set of owners. For example, the computing entity  24  indicates that the proposed agreed payment terms are the agreed payment terms when determining that the proposed agreed payment terms are acceptable to the set of owners (e.g., by prestored minimum requirements, by instant approval). 
       FIG.  7 C  further illustrates the example of operation, where having produced the smart contract, a sixth step of the example method of operation of the licensing of the set of patents includes the computing entity  24  generating a new block with the new smart contract for a blockchain of the patent distributed ledger associated with the non-fungible token. The generating the new block includes determining whether to indirectly or directly update the patent distributed ledger. For example, the computing entity  24  determines to indirectly update the patent distributed ledger when the computing entity  24  does not have a satisfactory direct access to the patent distributed ledger. As another example, the computing entity  24  determines to directly update the patent distributed ledger when a predetermination stored in the database  34  indicates to directly access the patent distributed ledger when possible. 
     When indirectly updating the patent distributed ledger, the generating of the block includes the computing entity  24  issuing a block generation request to a patent ledger computing device serving as a blockchain node of the patent distributed ledger. The block generation request includes the new smart contract. For example, the computing entity  24  issues a use message  6  to the computing entity  30 - 1 , where the use message  6  includes the request in the new smart contract. In response, the computing entity  30 - 1  adds a new block to the patent distributed ledger (e.g., as illustrated by license  2  within block  2 - 2  of patent NFT  2  in the example of  FIG.  7 C ). 
     When directly updating the patent distributed ledger, the causing the generation of the block includes the computing entity  24  performing a series of sub-steps. A first sub-step includes obtaining a copy of the patent distributed ledger. For example, the computing entity  24  extracts the patent distributed ledger from a use message  6  from the computing entity  30 - 1 . As another example, the computing entity  24  recovers the patent distributed ledger from the blockchain  36  of the database  34  of the computing entity  24 . 
     A second sub-step includes hashing the new smart contract utilizing a receiving public key of the patent distributed ledger to produce a next transaction hash value. For example, the computing entity  24  obtains a suitable receiving public key (e.g., from a current version of the blockchain, from a blockchain node, from a computing entity  20 ) and performs the hashing function to produce the next transaction hash value. 
     A third sub-step includes encrypting the next transaction hash value utilizing a private key of the broker computing device to produce a next transaction signature. For example, the computing entity  24  recovers a private key associated with the computing entity  24  and utilizes the recovered private key to encrypt the next transaction hash value to produce the next transaction signature. 
     A fourth sub-step includes generating a next block (e.g., block  2 - 2 ) of a blockchain of the patent distributed ledger to include the new smart contract and the next transaction signature. For example, the computing entity  24  generates the next block as previously discussed with regards to  FIG.  1 D  to include the new smart contract and the next transaction signature. 
     A fifth sub-step includes causing inclusion of the next block in the patent distributed ledger. For example, the computing entity  24  appends the next block of the blockchain in the patent distributed ledger as previously discussed with reference to  FIG.  1 D  to update the patent distributed ledger as illustrated in  FIG.  7 C  by the license  2  of block  2 - 2  of NFT  2 . 
     The method described above in conjunction with a processing module of any computing entity of the computing infrastructure of  FIG.  1    can alternatively be performed by other modules of the system of  FIG.  1    or by other devices. In addition, at least one memory section that is non-transitory (e.g., a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, a non-transitory computer readable memory organized into a first memory element, a second memory element, a third memory element, a fourth element section, a fifth memory element, a sixth memory element, etc.) that stores operational instructions can, when executed by one or more processing modules of the one or more computing entities of the computing system  10 , cause one or more computing devices of  FIG.  1    to perform any or all of the method steps described above. 
       FIGS.  8 A- 8 C  are schematic block diagrams of an embodiment of a computing infrastructure illustrating another example of establishing a license for a set of patents. The computing infrastructure includes the computing entity  20  of  FIG.  1   , the computing entity  22  of  FIG.  1   , the computing entity  24  of  FIG.  1   , the computing entities  26 - 1  through  26 -N of  FIG.  1   , the computing entities  28 - 1  through  28 -N of  FIG.  1   , and the computing entities  30 - 1  through  30 -N of  FIG.  1    serving as blockchain nodes for a patent distributed ledger. A portion of the patent distributed ledger is illustrated to include a plurality of patent nonfungible tokens (NFT) and associated license blocks. In the example, the computing entities  28 - 1  through  28 -N serve as reporting computing devices and the computing entities  28 - 1  through  28 -N serve as the user computing devices (e.g., the ones to take the license for the set of patents). 
       FIG.  8 A  illustrates an example of operation of the method of establishing the license for the set of patents utilizing the patent distributed ledger. A first step of the example method of operation includes the computing entity  24  (e.g., in a broker computing device role) obtaining an indication of potential use of the set of patents by a user computing device (e.g., computing entity  26 - 1 ) of the computing infrastructure. A reporting computing device (e.g., the computing entity  28 - 1 ) of the computing infrastructure previously generated the indication of potential use of the set of patents by the user computing device. The reporting computing device (e.g., computing entity  28 - 1 ) is distinct from the broker computing device (e.g., computing entity  24 ). 
     The obtaining the indication of potential use of the set of patents by the user computing device comprises one or more approaches. A first approach includes the computing entity  24  issuing patent basics of the set of patents to the computing entity  28 - 1  (e.g., the reporting computing device). The reporting computing device utilizes the patent basics to compare claimed aspects of the set of patents to an activity of a potential utilization of the set of patents by the user computing device. In an embodiment, the computing entity  28 - 1  utilizes artificial intelligence to determine a true meaning of claim language of one or more patents of the set of patents and to determine a true meaning of a structure, method, or description of activities associated with the user computing device (e.g., computing entity  26 - 1 ). The computing entity  28 - 1  compares the true meanings and indicates the potential use of the set of patents by the user computing device when the true meanings are essentially the same. The computing entity  28 - 1  issues a use message  6  to the computing entity  24 , where the use message  6  indicates the potential use of the set of patents by the user computing device. 
     A second approach includes the computing entity  24  receiving the indication of potential use of the set of patents from the reporting computing device (e.g., the computing entity  28 - 1 ) when the reporting computing device determines that the claimed aspects of the set of patents are substantially the same as the activity of the potential utilization of the set of patents by the user computing device. 
     Having obtained the indication of potential use of the set of patents, a second step of the example method of operation includes the computing entity  24  issuing a bilateral licensing request to the user computing device. The bilateral licensing request includes the indication of potential use of the set of patents by the user computing device. The bilateral licensing request solicits licensing by the user computing device of the set of patents and solicits the user computing device to make available patents for licensing utilizing the patent distributed ledger that are owned and/or associated with the user computing device. 
     The issuing the bilateral licensing request to the user computing device includes a series of sub-steps. A first sub-step includes accessing the portion of the patent distributed ledger associated with the set of patents. For example, the computing entity  24  accesses a copy of the patent distributed ledger as a blockchain  36  in the database  34  of the computing entity  24 . As another example, the computing entity  24  exchanges use messages  6  with the computing entity  30 - 1  serving as a blockchain node for the patent distributed ledger to access the portion of the patent distributed ledger. 
     A second sub-step includes the computing entity  24  determining whether the user computing device is affiliated with licensing of the set of patents based on the portion of the patent distributed ledger associated with the set of patents. For example, the computing entity  24  attempts to identify a block of the blockchain of the patent distributed ledger associated with the user computing device (e.g., the computing entity  26 - 1 ). For instance, the computing entity  24  identifies a second block of the blockchain that is associated with a patent NFT for the set of patents but does not find a block associated with the computing entity  26 - 1  indicating a license has been taken. 
     When the user computing device is not affiliated with the licensing of the set of patents a third sub-step includes the computing entity  24  generating the bilateral licensing request to include the indication of potential use of the set of patents by the user computing device. For instance, the computing entity  24  generates a use message  6  to send to the computing entity  26 - 1  that includes the bilateral licensing request. 
     Having issued the bilateral licensing request, a third step of the example method of operation includes the computing entity  24  interpreting a request from the user computing device in response to the bilateral licensing request to cause a license of the set of patents for use by the user computing device to produce licensee information. The licensee information includes a licensee identifier and an identifier of the set of patents. For example, the computing entity  24  receives a use message  6  from the computing entity  26 - 1  that includes the request to cause the license of the set of patents to the user computing device. Having received the query request, the computing entity  24  produces the licensee information by including the identifier of the set of patents from the NFT and the licensee identifier from the request. 
     Having produced the licensee information, a fourth step of the example method of operation includes the computing entity  24  identifying the non-fungible token (NFT) associated with the set of patents. The patent distributed ledger includes the NFT. The user computing device is not already affiliated with a license connected to the NFT. The NFT includes a smart contract for the set of patents. The smart contract includes one or more of patent basics of the set of patents, available license terms, available payment terms, agreed license terms, and agreed payment terms. The computing entity  24  identifies the NFT as previously discussed (e.g., locally in the database  34  the computing entity  24  and remotely by communicating with the computing entity  30 - 1  serving as a blockchain node). 
       FIG.  8 B  further illustrates the example method of operation where in a fifth step the computing entity  24  interprets a request from the user computing device in response to the bilateral licensing request to make available for licensing a second set of patents affiliated with the user computing device to produce second patent basics of a second smart contract for the second set of patents. The second patent basics include a second patent set identifier, a second patent number of at least one patent number of the second set of patents, and at least one second patent owner identifier associated with the second set of patents. For example, the computing entity  26 - 1  issues another use message  6  to the computing entity  24 - 1  that includes the request from the user computing device to make available for licensing the second set of patents. 
     A sixth step of the example method of operation includes the computing entity  24  verifying with a patent issuance computing device of the computing infrastructure, validity of the second patent basics. For example, the computing entity  24  exchanges set up messages  4  with the computing entity  22  (e.g., of the US patent office) to verify that the computing entity  26 - 1  is affiliated with ownership of the second set of patents and that the second set of patents are still in force (e.g., second patent basics are valid). 
     When the second patent basics are valid, a seventh step of the example method of operation includes the computing entity  24  establishing second available license terms of the second smart contract for the second set of patents and establishing second available payment terms of the second smart contract for the second set of patents as previously discussed. For example, the computing entity  24  generates the available license terms and available payment terms as patent set information  202 - 2  for the second set of patents and stores the patent set information in a smart contract  38  of the database  34  the computing entity  24 . 
     Having established the terms, and eighth step of the example method of operation includes the computing entity  24  causing generation of a second non-fungible token associated with the second smart contract in the patent distributed ledger. For example, the computing entity  24  utilizes the second smart contract to generate a new NFT and communicates the new NFT in another use message  6  to the computing entity  30 - 1 , where the computing entity  30 - 1  facilitates integrating the new NFT as a patent NFT  3  (e.g., block  3  as illustrated in  FIG.  8 B ) in the blockchain of the patent distributed ledger. 
       FIG.  8 C  further illustrates the example method of operation where in a ninth step the computing entity  24  establishes the agreed license terms based on the available license terms of the set of patents to update the smart contract to produce a new smart contract and establishes agreed payment terms based on the available payment terms of the set of patents to update the new smart contract. The establishing the agreed license terms based on the available license terms of the set of patents to update the smart contract to produce the new smart contract includes a series of sub-steps. 
     A first sub-step includes the computing entity  24  obtaining the available license terms from the smart contract. For example, the computing entity  24  extracts the available license terms from the smart contract  38  from the database  34  of the computing entity  24 . 
     A second sub-step includes generating proposed agreed license terms based on the available license terms and the request from the user computing device. For example, the computing entity  24  modifies the available license terms based on requested aspects of the request from the user computing device to take the license. 
     A third sub-step includes determining whether the proposed license terms are acceptable to a set of owners associated with the set of patents as previously discussed. A fourth sub-step includes establishing the proposed license terms as the agreed license terms for the new smart contract when the proposed agreed license terms are acceptable to the set of owners. For example, the computing entity  24  aggregates one or more of the agreed license terms and agreed payment terms into patent set information  202 - 1  of the smart contract  38 . 
     Having established the agreed license and payment terms, a tenth step of the example method of operation includes the computing entity  24  causing generation of a new block with the new smart contract for the blockchain of the patent distributed ledger associated with the NFT. The causing generation of the new block with the new smart contract for the blockchain of the patent distributed ledger associated with the NFT includes a series of sub-steps. 
     A first sub-step includes determining whether to indirectly or directly update the patent distributed ledger. For example, the computing entity  24  determines to directly update the patent distributed ledger when a current copy of the blockchain  36  is within the database  34 . As another example, the computing entity  24  determines to indirectly update the patent distributed ledger in accordance with a predetermination. 
     A first alternative second sub-step includes, when indirectly updating the patent distributed ledger, the computing entity  24  issuing a non-fungible token generation request to a patent ledger computing device serving as a blockchain node of the patent distributed ledger. The non-fungible token generation request includes the new smart contract. For example, the computing entity  24  issues another use message  6  to the computing entity  30 - 1  where the use message  6  includes the new smart contract. In response, the computing entity  30 - 1  generates a new block  2 - 2  to associate with the patent NFT block  2  in the blockchain of the patent distributed ledger as illustrated in  FIG.  8 C . 
     A second alternative second sub-step includes, when directly updating the patent distributed ledger, the computing entity  24  updates a copy of the blockchain  36  in the database  34  of the computing entity  24  for integration with the patent distributed ledger. The updating of the copy includes a series of sub-steps. A first sub-step includes obtaining the copy of the patent distributed ledger (e.g., retrieving the blockchain  36  from the database  34 ). 
     A second sub-step includes hashing the new smart contract utilizing a receiving public key of the patent distributed ledger to produce a next transaction hash value. A third sub-step includes encrypting the next transaction hash value utilizing a private key of the broker computing device (e.g., computing entity  24 ) to produce a next transaction signature. 
     A fourth sub-step includes generating the new block of the blockchain of the patent distributed ledger to include the new smart contract and the next transaction signature. For example, the computing entity  24  updates the smart contract  38  in the database  34  to include the new block with the new smart contract and the next transaction signature. 
     A fifth sub-step includes causing inclusion of the new block in the patent distributed ledger. For example, the computing entity  24  issues another use message  6  to the computing entity  30 - 1  that includes the new block. Subsequently, the computing entity  30 - 1  inserts the new block as block  2 - 2  into the blockchain, representing a second license of the set of patents associated with the patent NFT  2  as illustrated in  FIG.  8 C . 
     The method described above in conjunction with a processing module of any computing entity of the computing infrastructure of  FIG.  1    can alternatively be performed by other modules of the system of  FIG.  1    or by other devices. In addition, at least one memory section that is non-transitory (e.g., a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, a non-transitory computer readable memory organized into a first memory element, a second memory element, a third memory element, a fourth element section, a fifth memory element, a sixth memory element, etc.) that stores operational instructions can, when executed by one or more processing modules of the one or more computing entities of the computing system  10 , cause one or more computing devices of  FIG.  1    to perform any or all of the method steps described above. 
       FIGS.  9 A- 9 C  are schematic block diagrams of an embodiment of a computing infrastructure illustrating another example of establishing a license for a set of patents. The computing infrastructure includes the computing entity  20  of  FIG.  1   , the computing entity  22  of  FIG.  1   , the computing entity  24  of  FIG.  1   , the computing entities  26 - 1  through  26 -N of  FIG.  1   , the computing entities  28 - 1  through  28 -N of  FIG.  1   , and the computing entities  30 - 1  through  30 -N of  FIG.  1    serving as blockchain nodes for a patent distributed ledger. A portion of the patent distributed ledger is illustrated to include a plurality of patent nonfungible tokens (NFT) and associated license blocks. In the example, the computing entities  28 - 1  through  28 -N serve as reporting computing devices and the computing entities  28 - 1  through  28 -N serve as the user computing devices (e.g., the ones to take the license for the set of patents). 
       FIG.  9 A  illustrates an example of operation of the method of establishing the license for the set of patents utilizing the patent distributed ledger. A first step of the example method of operation includes the computing entity  24  obtaining an indication of potential use of a set of patents by a user computing device (e.g., computing entity  26 - 1 ) of the computing infrastructure. A reporting computing device (e.g., computing entity  28 - 1 ) of the computing infrastructure previously generated the indication of potential use of the set of patents by the user computing device. The reporting computing device is distinct from the broker computing device (e.g., computing entity  24 ). For example, the computing entity  24  receives a use message  6  from the computing entity  28 - 1 , where the use message  6  includes the indication of potential use of the set of patents. 
     Having obtained the indication of potential use of the set of patents, a second step of the method of operation includes the computing entity  24  issuing a request to make the set of patents available for licensing, to a patent owner computing device of the computing infrastructure. The patent owner computing device (e.g., computing entity  20 ) is distinct from the broker computing device (e.g., computing entity  24 ). The patent owner computing device is capable to make the set of patents available for licensing. The request to make the set of patents available for licensing includes the indication of potential use of the set of patents. For example, the computing entity  24  exchanges set up messages  4  with the computing entity  20  to indicate that patents owned and/or controlled by the computing entity  20  are being used by others and that the computing entity  20  should consider making available for licensing the set of patents. 
     Having issued the request to make the set of patents available for licensing, a third step of the example method of operation includes the computing entity  24  interpreting a request from the patent owner computing device to offer the set of patents available for to produce patent basics of a smart contract for the set of patents. The patent basics include a patent set identifier, a patent number of at least one patent number of the set of patents, and at least one patent owner identifier associated with the set of patents. For example, the computing entity  24  exchanges further set up messages  4  with the computing entity  20  that includes the requests to offer the set of patents available for licensing. 
       FIG.  9 B  further illustrates the example method of operation where in a fourth step the computing entity  24  verifies with a patent issuance computing device of the computing infrastructure, validity of the patent basics. For example, the computing entity  24  exchanges set up messages  4  with the computing entity  22  to verify that the computing entity  20  is associated with ownership of the set of patents and that the set of patents are in force until an expiration date that agrees with what was received in the request. 
     When the patent basics are valid, a fifth step of the example method of operation includes the computing entity  24  establishing available license terms of the smart contract for the set of patents, and establishing available payment terms of the smart contract for the set of patents. For example, the computing entity  24  generates available license terms and payment terms as patent set information  202  of the smart contract  38  and stores the smart contract in the database  34  the computing entity  24  as previously discussed. 
     Having established the available license and payment terms, a 6 step of the example method of operation includes the computing entity  24  causing generation of a new block with the smart contract of a non-fungible token for a blockchain of the patent distributed ledger. For example, the computing entity  24  generates the new block to include the smart contract as previously discussed. For instance, the computing entity  24  issues another use message  6  to the computing entity  30 - 1 , where the use message  6  includes the new block whereby the computing entity  30 - 1  includes the new block as block  3  of the patent NFT  3  in the blockchain of the patent distributed ledger as illustrated in  FIG.  9 B . 
       FIG.  9 C  further illustrates the example of operation where having produced the new NFT for the set of patents, a seventh step includes the computing entity  24  issuing a license request to the user computing device. For example, the computing entity  24  issues a use message  6  to the computing entity  26 - 1  to request that the user computing device take a license for the set of patents. 
     An eighth step of the example method of operation includes the computing entity  24  interpreting a request to cause a license of the set of patents to the user computing device. For example, the computing entity  24  interprets a request within another use message  6  received from the computing entity  26 - 1  with regards to taking the license to the set of patents. 
     A ninth step of the example method of operation includes the user computing device  24  causing generation of a new block for the NFT for the set of patents to represent a license for the set of patents taken by the computing entity  26 - 1 . For example, the computing entity  24  generates a smart contract  38  for the user computing device and sends the new block to the computing entity  30 - 1 . The computing entity  30 - 1  generates a new block  3 - 1  for the blockchain of the distributed patent ledger for the patent NFT  3  block  3  as illustrated in  FIG.  9 C . The new block  3 - 1  is generated to include the smart contract  38  for the user computing device to license the set of patents. 
     The method described above in conjunction with a processing module of any computing entity of the computing infrastructure of  FIG.  1    can alternatively be performed by other modules of the system of  FIG.  1    or by other devices. In addition, at least one memory section that is non-transitory (e.g., a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, a non-transitory computer readable memory organized into a first memory element, a second memory element, a third memory element, a fourth element section, a fifth memory element, a sixth memory element, etc.) that stores operational instructions can, when executed by one or more processing modules of the one or more computing entities of the computing system  10 , cause one or more computing devices of  FIG.  1    to perform any or all of the method steps described above. 
     It is noted that terminologies as may be used herein such as bit stream, stream, signal sequence, etc. (or their equivalents) have been used interchangeably to describe digital information whose content corresponds to any of a number of desired types (e.g., data, video, speech, text, graphics, audio, etc. any of which may generally be referred to as ‘data’). 
     As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately” provides an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding term and/or relativity between items. For some industries, an industry-accepted tolerance is less than one percent and, for other industries, the industry-accepted tolerance is 10 percent or more. Other examples of industry-accepted tolerance range from less than one percent to fifty percent. Industry-accepted tolerances correspond to, but are not limited to, component values, integrated circuit process variations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, thermal noise, dimensions, signaling errors, dropped packets, temperatures, pressures, material compositions, and/or performance metrics. Within an industry, tolerance variances of accepted tolerances may be more or less than a percentage level (e.g., dimension tolerance of less than +/−1%). Some relativity between items may range from a difference of less than a percentage level to a few percent. Other relativity between items may range from a difference of a few percent to magnitude of differences. 
     As may also be used herein, the term(s) “configured to”, “operably coupled to”, “coupled to”, and/or “coupling” includes direct coupling between items and/or indirect coupling between items via an intervening item (e.g., an item includes, but is not limited to, a component, an element, a circuit, and/or a module) where, for an example of indirect coupling, the intervening item does not modify the information of a signal but may adjust its current level, voltage level, and/or power level. As may further be used herein, inferred coupling (i.e., where one element is coupled to another element by inference) includes direct and indirect coupling between two items in the same manner as “coupled to”. 
     As may even further be used herein, the term “configured to”, “operable to”, “coupled to”, or “operably coupled to” indicates that an item includes one or more of power connections, input(s), output(s), etc., to perform, when activated, one or more its corresponding functions and may further include inferred coupling to one or more other items. As may still further be used herein, the term “associated with”, includes direct and/or indirect coupling of separate items and/or one item being embedded within another item. 
     As may be used herein, the term “compares favorably”, indicates that a comparison between two or more items, signals, etc., provides a desired relationship. For example, when the desired relationship is that signal  1  has a greater magnitude than signal  2 , a favorable comparison may be achieved when the magnitude of signal  1  is greater than that of signal  2  or when the magnitude of signal  2  is less than that of signal  1 . As may be used herein, the term “compares unfavorably”, indicates that a comparison between two or more items, signals, etc., fails to provide the desired relationship. 
     As may be used herein, one or more claims may include, in a specific form of this generic form, the phrase “at least one of a, b, and c” or of this generic form “at least one of a, b, or c”, with more or less elements than “a”, “b”, and “c”. In either phrasing, the phrases are to be interpreted identically. In particular, “at least one of a, b, and c” is equivalent to “at least one of a, b, or c” and shall mean a, b, and/or c. As an example, it means: “a” only, “b” only, “c” only, “a” and “b”, “a” and “c”, “b” and “c”, and/or “a”, “b”, and “c”. 
     As may also be used herein, the terms “processing module”, “processing circuit”, “processor”, “processing circuitry”, and/or “processing unit” may be a single processing device or a plurality of processing devices. Such a processing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on hard coding of the circuitry and/or operational instructions. The processing module, module, processing circuit, processing circuitry, and/or processing unit may be, or further include, memory and/or an integrated memory element, which may be a single memory device, a plurality of memory devices, and/or embedded circuitry of another processing module, module, processing circuit, processing circuitry, and/or processing unit. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device that stores digital information. Note that if the processing module, module, processing circuit, processing circuitry, and/or processing unit includes more than one processing device, the processing devices may be centrally located (e.g., directly coupled together via a wired and/or wireless bus structure) or may be distributedly located (e.g., cloud computing via indirect coupling via a local area network and/or a wide area network). Further note that if the processing module, module, processing circuit, processing circuitry and/or processing unit implements one or more of its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory and/or memory element storing the corresponding operational instructions may be embedded within, or external to, the circuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Still further note that, the memory element may store, and the processing module, module, processing circuit, processing circuitry and/or processing unit executes, hard coded and/or operational instructions corresponding to at least some of the steps and/or functions illustrated in one or more of the Figures. Such a memory device or memory element can be included in an article of manufacture. 
     One or more embodiments have been described above with the aid of method steps illustrating the performance of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functional building blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined herein for convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships are appropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claims. Further, the boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined for convenience of description. Alternate boundaries could be defined as long as the certain significant functions are appropriately performed. Similarly, flow diagram blocks may also have been arbitrarily defined herein to illustrate certain significant functionality. 
     To the extent used, the flow diagram block boundaries and sequence could have been defined otherwise and still perform the certain significant functionality. Such alternate definitions of both functional building blocks and flow diagram blocks and sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claims. One of average skill in the art will also recognize that the functional building blocks, and other illustrative blocks, modules, and components herein, can be implemented as illustrated or by discrete components, application specific integrated circuits, processors executing appropriate software and the like or any combination thereof. 
     In addition, a flow diagram may include a “start” and/or “continue” indication. The “start” and “continue” indications reflect that the steps presented can optionally be incorporated in or otherwise used in conjunction with one or more other routines. In addition, a flow diagram may include an “end” and/or “continue” indication. The “end” and/or “continue” indications reflect that the steps presented can end as described and shown or optionally be incorporated in or otherwise used in conjunction with one or more other routines. In this context, “start” indicates the beginning of the first step presented and may be preceded by other activities not specifically shown. Further, the “continue” indication reflects that the steps presented may be performed multiple times and/or may be succeeded by other activities not specifically shown. Further, while a flow diagram indicates a particular ordering of steps, other orderings are likewise possible provided that the principles of causality are maintained. 
     The one or more embodiments are used herein to illustrate one or more aspects, one or more features, one or more concepts, and/or one or more examples. A physical embodiment of an apparatus, an article of manufacture, a machine, and/or of a process may include one or more of the aspects, features, concepts, examples, etc. described with reference to one or more of the embodiments discussed herein. Further, from figure to figure, the embodiments may incorporate the same or similarly named functions, steps, modules, etc. that may use the same or different reference numbers and, as such, the functions, steps, modules, etc. may be the same or similar functions, steps, modules, etc. or different ones. 
     Unless specifically stated to the contra, signals to, from, and/or between elements in a figure of any of the figures presented herein may be analog or digital, continuous time or discrete time, and single-ended or differential. For instance, if a signal path is shown as a single-ended path, it also represents a differential signal path. Similarly, if a signal path is shown as a differential path, it also represents a single-ended signal path. While one or more particular architectures are described herein, other architectures can likewise be implemented that use one or more data buses not expressly shown, direct connectivity between elements, and/or indirect coupling between other elements as recognized by one of average skill in the art. 
     The term “module” is used in the description of one or more of the embodiments. A module implements one or more functions via a device such as a processor or other processing device or other hardware that may include or operate in association with a memory that stores operational instructions. A module may operate independently and/or in conjunction with software and/or firmware. As also used herein, a module may contain one or more sub-modules, each of which may be one or more modules. 
     As may further be used herein, a computer readable memory includes one or more memory elements. A memory element may be a separate memory device, multiple memory devices, or a set of memory locations within a memory device. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, a quantum register or other quantum memory and/or any other device that stores data in a non-transitory manner. Furthermore, the memory device may be in a form of a solid-state memory, a hard drive memory or other disk storage, cloud memory, thumb drive, server memory, computing device memory, and/or other non-transitory medium for storing data. The storage of data includes temporary storage (i.e., data is lost when power is removed from the memory element) and/or persistent storage (i.e., data is retained when power is removed from the memory element). As used herein, a transitory medium shall mean one or more of: (a) a wired or wireless medium for the transportation of data as a signal from one computing device to another computing device for temporary storage or persistent storage; (b) a wired or wireless medium for the transportation of data as a signal within a computing device from one element of the computing device to another element of the computing device for temporary storage or persistent storage; (c) a wired or wireless medium for the transportation of data as a signal from one computing device to another computing device for processing the data by the other computing device; and (d) a wired or wireless medium for the transportation of data as a signal within a computing device from one element of the computing device to another element of the computing device for processing the data by the other element of the computing device. As may be used herein, a non-transitory computer readable memory is substantially equivalent to a computer readable memory. A non-transitory computer readable memory can also be referred to as a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. 
     While particular combinations of various functions and features of the one or more embodiments have been expressly described herein, other combinations of these features and functions are likewise possible. The present disclosure is not limited by the particular examples disclosed herein and expressly incorporates these other combinations.