Bank of America Files for 3 New Blockchain Patents

Three new patent applications reveal that the Bank of America has been working on using distributed ledger technology (DLT) to validate the veracity of information – and those who handle it.

First filed in February 2016, the details of the three applications were made available to the public last week by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

One case

cites a process for using a blockchain to track and validate user identification. For example, the document details how a distributed database system would be able to update a new user's identification information, and subsequently store and timestamp additional details as time progresses. Data such as "signatures, physical attributes, or locations of the user are identified," the application says.

Authentication questions would then be generated based on a timeline, which could also be deployed by a third-party service to enable access for users.

A second patent application advances a design that enables the validation of changes to user identity, allowing the system to update and evolve that information over time.

Concurrently, a more generic patent application was also filed, which, as detailed by the document, is designed to convert unsecured "instruments" through a validation process.

In sum, the applications suggest the US-based bank is looking to blockchain as a way to validate not only the people who are using a system, but also the information within it as well.

To date, Bank of America has been among the more active companies in applying for patents related to blockchain technology, filing for 10 in late 2015. So far, however, no patents have been awarded, according to public data.

Bank of America image via Shutterstock