Microsoft, the Software giant is getting into blockchain. This is not the first time that the giant has showed interest in it. Earlier to this we reported that the software giant introduced Ethereum’s Proof-Of-Authority on Azure.
Microsoft has recently filed two new patents [1][2] which talk about the use of blockchain technology making use of Trusted Environment Executions (TEEs). These two patents were filed by the tech giant to the USPTO on the 9th of August. This is a unique application of blockchain technology that fuses trusted computing with blockchain.
As per the filings, a TEE may be used for the purposes of either storing a predetermined type of blockchain or a security code, or can act as a validation node. Hence a TEE attestation could help in the process of verification of participants in the network. Let us take a deeper look at the two applications of this technology as explained by Microsoft with two patents:
The two patents launched by the company talk about a common goal, as both these patents comment on the fact that TEE attestation is possible only in the context of a Confidential Consortium (COCO) Blockchain framework – which can also allow for the setting up of more complex forms of verification systems.
The first patent that Microsoft has filed talks about setting up of a consortium blockchain network and has been titled: “Establishment of Consortium Blockchain Network”. The crux of this patent is about how Trusted Environment Executions can be used to enhance the security of a consortium blockchain system. This patent also highlights the fact that TEE attestations can be employed to ensure smoother verification of new participants of the network. As mentioned in the patent’s abstract,
“In one example of the technology, a first node is endorsed. During endorsement of a first node, a pre-determined type of blockchain or other security protocol code to be authorized and a pre-determined membership list may be stored in a trusted execution environment (TEE) of the first node.”
The second patent filed by Microsoft, titled “Transaction Processing For Consortium Blockchain Network” talks about how the network can benefit from encrypted transactions. By making use of these kinds of transactions, things could be made faster and less complicated as there is no need for certain transactions to go through decryption. As mentioned in the patent’s abstract,
“In some examples, the entire network accepts the transactions, including chaincode transactions, and blockchain states are directly updated. In some examples, there is no need for a copy of the transaction in order to confirm a block.”
These latest patents mark Microsoft taking another step forward towards blockchain led innovations. As reported by us earlier, The company recently joined forces with Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and Starbucks to create Bakkt, a cryptocurrency platform.
