The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for facilitating transfer of ownership of tokens between users on a decentralized database that stores a registry of assets and transactions. In particular, the systems and methods facilitate trading of tokens.
Decentralized databases are known to facilitate sharing information among users in different physical locations, using different computing devices and/or platforms. Decentralized databases are known to facilitate sharing control and/or hosting responsibilities of such shared information among such users, e.g., to prevent a single point of failure.
Ledgers are known techniques to produce a secure record or registry of ownership of assets, transactions, and other information. A database may include a ledger, and a ledger may be implemented as a database. For example, a blockchain is a type of ledger, as well as a type of decentralized database that stores a registry of assets and transactions. Blockchain technology is known to be used for cryptocurrencies, smart contracts, and/or other applications for a decentralized database. Tokenization of (digital) objects and/or assets on a distributed blockchain is known, e.g., as used for security tokens, utility tokens, payment tokens, and/or other tokens.
One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system configured for facilitating transfer of ownership of tokens between users on a decentralized database that stores a registry of assets and transactions. The system may include one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readable instructions. The processor(s) may be configured to store, on electronic storage, a set of code executable by the decentralized database to manifest individual tokens on the decentralized database. The set of code may define functions of the individual tokens. The functions may include an ownership function, a sale function, a purchase function, and/or other functions. The ownership function of a given token may be configured to record, on the decentralized database, an ownership address of a given owner for the given token. The sale function of the given token may be configured to define and/or publish a sales price for an offer at which ownership of the given token is offered for sale. The purchase function of the given token may be configured to receive an amount of consideration from an individual user. Responsive to the amount of consideration matching the sales price, the received amount of consideration is transferred to the given owner, and the ownership of the given token is transferred to the individual user by modifying the ownership address to an address associated with the individual user. The processor(s) may be configured to record the set of code on the decentralized database such that the set of code is accessible at a creator address that is associated with the creator of the set of code.
Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for facilitating transfer of ownership of tokens between users on a decentralized database that stores a registry of assets and transactions. The method may include storing, on electronic storage, a set of code executable by the decentralized database to manifest individual tokens on the decentralized database. The set of code may define functions of the individual tokens. The functions may include an ownership function, a sale function, a purchase function, and/or other functions. The ownership function of a given token may be configured to record, on the decentralized database, an ownership address of a given owner for the given token. The sale function of the given token may be configured to define and/or publish a sales price for an offer at which ownership of the given token is offered for sale. The purchase function of the given token may be configured to receive an amount of consideration from an individual user. Responsive to the amount of consideration matching the sales price, the received amount of consideration is transferred to the given owner, and the ownership of the given token is transferred to the individual user by modifying the ownership address to an address associated with the individual user. The method may include recording the set of code on the decentralized database such that the set of code is accessible at a creator address that is associated with the creator of the set of code.
As used herein, any association (or relation, or reflection, or indication, or correspondency) involving users, servers, processors, client computing platforms, databases, sets of code, tokens, functions, addresses, sales prices, offers, amounts of considerations, and/or another entity or object that interacts with any part of the system and/or plays a part in the operation of the system, may be a one-to-one association, a one-to-many association, a many-to-one association, and/or a many-to-many association or N-to-M association (note that N and M may be different numbers greater than 1).
As used herein, the term “obtain” (and derivatives thereof) may include active and/or passive retrieval, determination, derivation, transfer, upload, download, submission, and/or exchange of information, and/or any combination thereof. As used herein, the term “effectuate” (and derivatives thereof) may include active and/or passive causation of any effect. As used herein, the term “determine” (and derivatives thereof) may include measure, calculate, compute, estimate, approximate, generate, and/or otherwise derive, and/or any combination thereof.
These and other features, and characteristics of the present technology, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
For example, the users may include one or more of a first creator, a second creator, a third creator, a first owner, a second owner, a third owner, a first seller, a second seller, a third seller, a first buyer, a second buyer, a third buyer, a first user, a second user, a third user, and/or other users. In some implementations, system 100 may include one or more servers 102, one or more client computing platforms 104, one or more databases 113, external resources 112, and/or other components. Server(s) 102 may be configured to communicate with one or more client computing platforms 104 according to a client/server architecture and/or other architectures. Client computing platform(s) 104 may be configured to communicate with other client computing platforms via server(s) 102 and/or according to a peer-to-peer architecture and/or other architectures. Users may access system 100 via client computing platform(s) 104.
In some implementations, decentralized database 113 (e.g., a blockchain or another structure of blocks) may be maintained by a distributed computing platform (not shown in
Decentralized database 113 may store a registry of assets and transactions across one or more networks. A given asset may be owned by a particular user. An asset may include anything of material value or usefulness that is owned by or on behalf of a person or company, according to some implementations. A right pertaining to an object may be an asset, the object being a physical or a virtual item. Multiple rights may form a set of rights or a bundle of rights that may be transferred and/or otherwise acted on or operated on together. For example, rights may include a right to use, a right to sell, a right to destroy, and/or other rights. Tokens are a type of asset. In some implementations, tokens may include one or more of security tokens, utility tokens, payment tokens, initial coin offering (ICO) tokens, virtual currency tokens, crypto tokens, ERC-20 tokens, EOS tokens, and/or other tokens. In some implementations, tokens not only represent value, but may have a specific use in a particular distributed computing platform, e.g., in the operation of decentralized database 113.
In some implementations, decentralized database 113 may record ownership of assets. Alternatively, and/or simultaneously, decentralized database 113 may record transactions that modify ownership of assets. A smart contract may be a type of asset. In some implementations, once a smart contract has been added to decentralized database 113, the smart contract may be referred to as published, posted, and/or recorded. In some implementations, elements of decentralized database 113 may be grouped together in units that are referred to as blocks. Individual blocks may be linked or chained together to form a structure of blocks and/or a hierarchy of blocks, such as, e.g., a chain of blocks. An individual block may include one or more assets and one or more transactions.
In some implementations, decentralized database 113 may be publicly accessible and append-only. In some implementations, existing blocks of decentralized database 113 can substantially not be altered or deleted, unless multiple copies of the decentralized database are altered. This is unlikely to happen provided that multiple copies of the decentralized database are stored on different computing platforms, e.g., in different geographical locations. Decentralized database 113 may be replicated on multiple computing platforms, preferably in multiple different geographical locations.
Server(s) 102 may be configured by machine-readable instructions 106. Machine-readable instructions 106 may include one or more instruction components. The instruction components may include computer program components. The instruction components may include one or more of token trading component 108, recording component 110, and/or other instruction components.
Token trading component 108 may be configured to store sets of code executable by the decentralized database to manifest, deploy, and/or instantiate individual tokens on decentralized database 113. In some implementations, individual sets of code may have been created by individual creating users, such as a first creator, a second creator, and so forth. In some implementations, a particular creator may create multiple tokens. In some implementations, token trading component 108 may be configured to store sets of code on electronic storage 114 and/or decentralized database 113. In some implementations, individual sets of code may define functions of individual tokens. For example, a given set of code may define functions of a given individual token. In some implementations, individual functions may be token-specific. In some implementations, an individual token may include a set of token-specific functions that operate on the individual token. In some implementations, individual functions may be implemented through one or more smart contracts on decentralized database 113. In some implementations, individual tokens may be implemented through one or more smart contracts on decentralized database 113. In some implementations, the functions may include one or more of a creator function, an ownership function, a sale function, a purchase function, and/or other functions.
The assets of decentralized database 113 may include the individual tokens manifested, deployed, and/or instantiated through token trading component 108. Assets may have one or more of value and/or utility pertaining to operations of decentralized database 113. Ownership of assets may be recorded in decentralized database 113. The transactions of decentralized database 113 may include transfers of (asset) ownership between multiple users of decentralized database 113. The ownership address for an individual token may be associated with one or more of the users of decentralized database 113. In some implementations, user accounts on decentralized database 113 may be uniquely identified through an address (this may be referred to as a user address or an account address). For example, a first token may be owned by a first owner, and this ownership may be recorded on decentralized database 113, e.g., by recording an address associated with the first owner (e.g., the first owner's account address) as the ownership address of the first token. Alternatively, and/or simultaneously, the ownership of the first token may be recorded and/or otherwise registered through an address that is included and/or stored in the first token itself. In other words, individual tokens may include an ownership address that indicates the current owner (or the user account address of the current owner). In such a case, a transfer of ownership of a particular token may include (and/or be effectuated by) a change in the ownership address included in the particular token.
As another example, a second token may be owned by a second owner, and this ownership may be recorded on decentralized database 113, e.g., by recording an address associated with the second owner (e.g., the second owner's account address) as the ownership address of the second token.
The functions may include the sale function. The sale function of individual tokens may be configured to define and publish sales prices for offers at which ownership of the individual tokens is offered for sale. In some implementations, some or all of the features of the sale function of an individual token may only be invoked and/or executed by the current owner of the individual token. For example, the current owner of an individual token may define a sales price of X coins (e.g., a virtual currency) for the individual token, which is an offer for sale. In some implementations, the sales price may be retrievable by querying the individual token, by querying the current owner, by inspecting a list of tokens offered for sale, and/or by otherwise processing a publication describing this offer. In some implementations, the current owner of an individual token may define a particular time limit associated with this offer, such that only an acceptance (by a buyer) that occurs prior to expiration of the particular time limit can complete the sale. For example, a time limit may be an absolute time and date, an amount of time counted from the offer and/or from another event, and/or any other unambiguous manner to restrict how long the offer is available. In some implementations, the current owner of an individual token may define one or more particular users associated with this offer, such that only these one or more particular users are able to accept this offer. These one or more particular users may be referred to as prospective buyers.
By way of non-limiting example,
In block 1, one asset (labeled Ax) is generated and/or assigned to user q (Uq). For example, the asset in block 1 may be an individual token manifested, deployed, and/or instantiated through a token trading component similar to token trading component 108 (see
By way of non-limiting example,
Referring to
The functions may include the purchase function. The purchase function of individual tokens may be configured to receive amounts of consideration from one or more users, e.g., buying users and/or prospective buyers. For a given token and a given buyer, the purchase function may be configured to verify whether the amount of consideration received from the given buyer matches the sales defined by the seller. Responsive to the received amount of consideration matching the defined sales price, receipt of the amount of consideration may constitute an acceptance of the offer by the given buyer. In some implementations, responsive to the received amount of consideration matching the defined sales price, the purchase function may be configured to transfer the received amount of consideration to the current/old owner. In some implementations, responsive to the received amount of consideration matching the defined sales price, the purchase function may be configured to transfer the ownership of the given token to the given buyer, e.g., by modifying the ownership address to an address associated with the given buyer.
In some implementations, where a given seller has identified one or more particular users as prospective buyers, the purchase function of a given token may be configured to verify whether a given buyer matches the one or more particular users identified by the given seller as prospective buyers.
In some implementations, the functions may be configured such that a seller can revoke an offer. For example, in some implementations, a given seller may revoke a given offer if and only if the given seller somehow notifies decentralized database 113 of his or her intent to revoke the offer (e.g., through a notification or message stating such intent). In some implementations, a given seller may revoke a given offer if and only if the given seller published his or her intent to revoke the offer (e.g., in the same manner as the publication of the given offer). In some implementations, a given seller may revoke a given offer if and only if no buyer has yet accepted the offer (e.g., no amount of consideration has been received that matches the sales price of a given offer).
The functions may include the creator function. The creator function of individual tokens may be configured to record, on decentralized database 113, creator addresses of the one or more creators of the individual sets of code. One or more of the functions of a given token may be configured to transfer one or more of a payment and/or an asset to the creator of the given token, e.g., subsequent to the receipt of a particular (agreed-upon) amount of consideration from a buying user.
Even though a creator may be a different user than the selling user, the creator may receive a share from the sale of a token from the selling user to the buying user. In some implementations, the creator may own a beneficiary right to a share resulting from the sale of a particular token, set of tokens, and/or type of tokens. As used herein, a share resulting from a particular action or activity may include one or more of a share of the proceeds of the particular action or activity, a fee related to the particular action or activity, a minimum payment triggered by the occurrence of the particular action or activity (or a set of particular actions or activities), and/or another arrangement for payment and/or compensation, including but not limited to combinations of fixed fees, minimum fees, percentages of sales, percentages of profits, and/or other arrangements. The term “share” does not imply or require a percentage or ratio, but rather is intended to signify that one or more users receive something of value and/or use. In some implementations, for example, the share may be defined as a certain percentage of the proceeds and/or profit. The certain percentage may be 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and/or another percentage. In some implementations, for example, the share may be defined as a fixed fee and/or minimum fee of a certain amount. In some implementations, for example, the share may be defined as a combination of a fee and a percentage, according to some arrangement for payment. In some implementations, a share resulting from a particular action or activity may be split in any way among multiple user and/or beneficiaries.
The ownership function of individual tokens may be configured to record, on decentralized database 113, ownership addresses of individual owners for the individual tokens. For example, a first token may be owned by a first owner, and this ownership may be recorded on decentralized database 113, e.g., by recording an address associated with the first owner (e.g., the first owner's account address) as the ownership address of the first token.
Recording component 110 may be configured to record information on decentralized database 113, including but not limited to sets of code. In some implementations, responsive to recordation of a given set of code (defining individual functions for a given token), the given set of code may be accessible to users of decentralized database 113. For example, in some implementations, a given set of code may be accessible at a creator address that is associated with the creator of the given set of code. In some implementations, functions of a given set of code may be invoked and/or executed by set-specific and/or function-specific addresses. For example, a buyer may invoke the purchase function by sending an amount of consideration to a particular address that is associated with the purchase function.
In some implementations, server(s) 102, client computing platform(s) 104, and/or external resources 112 may be operatively linked via one or more electronic communication links. For example, such electronic communication links may be established, at least in part, via one or more networks 13 such as the Internet and/or other networks. It will be appreciated that this is not intended to be limiting, and that the scope of this disclosure includes implementations in which server(s) 102, client computing platform(s) 104, and/or external resources 112 may be operatively linked via some other communication media.
A given client computing platform 104 may include one or more processors configured to execute computer program components. The computer program components may be configured to enable an expert or user associated with the given client computing platform 104 to interface with system 100 and/or external resources 112, and/or provide other functionality attributed herein to client computing platform(s) 104. By way of non-limiting example, the given client computing platform 104 may include one or more of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet computing platform, a NetBook, a Smartphone, a smart watch, a gaming console, and/or other computing platforms.
External resources 112 may include sources of information outside of system 100, external entities participating with system 100, and/or other resources. In some implementations, some or all of the functionality attributed herein to external resources 112 may be provided by resources included in system 100.
Server(s) 102 may include electronic storage 114, one or more processors 116, and/or other components. Server(s) 102 may include communication lines, or ports to enable the exchange of information with a network and/or other computing platforms. Illustration of server(s) 102 in
Electronic storage 114 may comprise non-transitory storage media that electronically stores information. The electronic storage media of electronic storage 114 may include one or both of system storage that is provided integrally (i.e., substantially non-removable) with server(s) 102 and/or removable storage that is removably connectable to server(s) 102 via, for example, a port (e.g., a USB port, a firewire port, etc.) or a drive (e.g., a disk drive, etc.). Electronic storage 114 may include one or more of optically readable storage media (e.g., optical disks, etc.), magnetically readable storage media (e.g., magnetic tape, magnetic hard drive, floppy drive, etc.), electrical charge-based storage media (e.g., EEPROM, RAM, etc.), solid-state storage media (e.g., flash drive, etc.), and/or other electronically readable storage media. Electronic storage 114 may include one or more virtual storage resources (e.g., cloud storage, a virtual private network, and/or other virtual storage resources). Electronic storage 114 may store software algorithms, information determined by processor(s) 116, information received from server(s) 102, information received from client computing platform(s) 104, and/or other information that enables server(s) 102 to function as described herein.
Processor(s) 116 may be configured to provide information processing capabilities in server(s) 102. As such, processor(s) 116 may include one or more of a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronically processing information. Although processor(s) 116 is shown in
It should be appreciated that although components 108 and/or 110 are illustrated in
In some implementations, method 200 may be implemented in one or more processing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuit designed to process information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices executing some or all of the operations of method 200 in response to instructions stored electronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or more processing devices may include one or more devices configured through hardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed for execution of one or more of the operations of method 200.
An operation 202 may include storing, on electronic storage the same as or similar to electronic storage 114, a set of code executable by the decentralized database to manifest individual tokens on the decentralized database. The set of code may define functions of the individual tokens. The functions may include an ownership function, a sale function, and a purchase function. Operation 202 may be performed by one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readable instructions including a component that is the same as or similar to token trading component 108, in accordance with one or more implementations.
An operation 204 may include recording the set of code on the decentralized database such that the set of code is accessible at a creator address that is associated with the creator of the set of code. Operation 204 may be performed by one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readable instructions including a component that is the same as or similar to recording component 110, in accordance with one or more implementations.
An operation 206 may include defining, by a first selling user and through the sale function of a first token, a first sales price at which ownership of the first token is offered for sale. Operation 206 may be performed by one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readable instructions including a component that is the same as or similar to token trading component 108 (and including the sale function of the first token), in accordance with one or more implementations.
An operation 208 may include receiving, from a first buying user and through the purchase function of the first token, a first amount of consideration that matches the first sales price. Operation 208 may be performed by one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readable instructions including a component that is the same as or similar to token trading component 108 (and including the purchase function of the first token), in accordance with one or more implementations.
An operation 210 may include transferring, through the purchase function of the first token, ownership of the first token from the first selling user to the first buying user. Operation 210 may be performed by one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readable instructions including a component that is the same as or similar to token trading component 108 (and including the purchase function of the first token), in accordance with one or more implementations.
Although the present technology has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the technology is not limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present technology contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any implementation can be combined with one or more features of any other implementation.
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