Identity and electronic signature verification in blockchain

Abstract

Disclosed are a system and techniques for identity and electronic signature verification that utilizes blockchain technology. An enterprise system enables computing devices to engage the enterprise and prospective users for the purposes of executing a document or a smart contract. Users may obtain a computer application from an enterprise system and may utilize the computer application to retrieve a document or select a smart contract. The identity of all users who execute the document may be verified based on an authentication by a trusted independent system. Information related to the respective signers, the document or smart contract, and the authentication may be stored as transactions in a blockchain. The transactions may be stored in the blockchain under a user's address, a document or smart contract address, or a digital wallet, if available.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic signature component, comprising:
 a processor coupled to a memory including programming instructions and a smart contract repository, wherein the processor when executing the programming instructions is operable to:
 receive a selected smart contract; 
 generate a document hash that authenticates a document generated based on the selected smart contract; 
 receive a verification request for verification of ownership of a digital credential of a first user, the verification request including an identifier of the first user and a digital address associated with the first user; 
 obtain a hash value associated with the digital address associated with the first user from the blockchain; 
 verify, using the obtained hash value and the identifier of the first user, an identity of the first user associated with the digital address as authentic; and 
 enable electronic execution by the first user of the document corresponding to the document hash. 
   
     
     
         2 . The electronic signature component of  claim 1 , wherein the processor when executing the programming instructions is operable to:
 identify a final version of the document generated based on attributes and settings of the selected smart contract for electronic execution by the first user and a second user;   generate a hash value of the identified final version of the document generated based on the selected smart contract; and   maintain the hash value of the identified final version of the document generated based on the selected smart contract in the blockchain associated with the smart contract address; and   forward the identified final version of the document with the smart contract address to the second user for electronic signature.   
     
     
         3 . The electronic signature component of  claim 2 , wherein the processor when executing the programming instructions is operable to:
 forward the identified final version of the document, select a contract attribute for application to the smart contract from a menu of contract attributes, wherein the menu of contract attributes includes:
 an order of signatures in the smart contract, a signing period date by which the smart contract must be ratified by the first user and the second user, a number of required signatures, a list entities, and persons required to execute the smart contract, a contract expiration date, or a delivery verification. 
   
     
     
         4 . The electronic signature component of  claim 2 , wherein the processor when executing the programming instructions is operable to:
 maintain a first user copy of the hash value of the identified final version of the document in the blockchain associated with a blockchain address of the first user; and   maintain a second user copy of the hash value of the identified final version of the document in the blockchain associated with a blockchain address of the second user.   
     
     
         5 . The electronic signature component of  claim 1 , wherein the processor when executing the programming instructions is operable to:
 based on attributes and settings of the selected smart contract, forward one or more indications of required signatures, signatures not yet received, a required review and review substantiation, an order of signatures, or an order of required signatures dictated by the settings in the smart contract to the first user's computing device.   
     
     
         6 . The electronic signature component of  claim 5 , wherein the processor when executing the programming instructions is operable to:
 receive confirmation from the smart contract that the smart contract is completed; and   present the confirmation on a display of a computing device associated with the first user.   
     
     
         7 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable program code executable by a processor, the execution of the computer-readable program code causing the processor to:
 receive, from an instance of an electronic signature computer application executing on a first user's computing device, a selected smart contract;   generate a document hash that authenticates a document generated based on the selected smart contract;   receive a verification request for verification of ownership of a digital credential of a first user, the verification request including an identifier of the first user and a digital address associated with the first user;   obtain a hash value associated with the digital address associated with the first user from the blockchain;   verify, using the obtained hash value and the identifier of the first user, an identity of the first user associated with the digital address as authentic; and   enable electronic execution by the first user of the document corresponding to the document hash.   
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 7 , wherein the execution of the computer-readable program code causes the processor to:
 identify a final version of the document generated based on attributes and settings of the selected smart contract for electronic execution by the first user and a second user;   generate a hash value of the identified final version of the document generated based on the selected smart contract; and   maintain the hash value of the identified final version of the document generated based on the selected smart contract in the blockchain associated with the smart contract address; and   forward the identified final version of the document with the smart contract address to the second user for electronic signature.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the execution of the computer-readable program code causes the processor to:
 forward the identified final version of the document, select a contract attribute for application to the smart contract from a menu of contract attributes, wherein the menu of contract attributes includes:
 an order of signatures in the smart contract, a signing period date by which the smart contract must be ratified by the first user and the second user, a number of required signatures, a list entities, and persons required to execute the smart contract, a contract expiration date, or a delivery verification. 
   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the execution of the computer-readable program code causes the processor to:
 maintain a first user copy of the hash value of the identified final version of the document in the blockchain associated with a blockchain address of the first user; and   maintain a second user copy of the hash value of the identified final version of the document in the blockchain associated with a blockchain address of the second user.   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the execution of the computer-readable program code causes the processor to:
 based on attributes and settings of the selected smart contract, forward one or more indications of required signatures, signatures not yet received, a required review and review substantiation, an order of signatures, or an order of required signatures dictated by the settings in the smart contract to the first user's computing device.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the execution of the computer-readable program code causes the processor to:
 receive confirmation from the smart contract that the smart contract is completed; and   present the confirmation on a display of a computing device associated with the first user.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the execution of the computer-readable program code, prior to when the processor receives the selected smart contract further causes the processor to:
 establish a connection with the instance of an electronic signature computer application executing on the first user's computing device.   
     
     
         14 . A system, comprising:
 a memory including programming instructions and a smart contract repository, wherein the smart contract repository may be operable to store smart contracts; and   an electronic signature component coupled to the memory, the electronic signature component including a processor, wherein the processor when executing the programming instructions is operable to:
 receive, from an instance of an electronic signature computer application executing on a first user's computing device, a selected smart contract; 
 generate a document hash that authenticates a document generated based on the selected smart contract; 
 receive a verification request for verification of ownership of a digital credential of a first user, the verification request including an identifier of the first user and a digital address associated with the first user; 
 obtain a hash value associated with the digital address associated with the first user from the blockchain; 
 verify, using the obtained hash value and the identifier of the first user, an identity of the first user associated with the digital address as authentic; and 
 enable electronic execution by the first user of the document corresponding to the document hash. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the processor of the electronic signature component when executing the programming instructions is operable to:
 identify a final version of the document generated based on attributes and settings of the selected smart contract for electronic execution by the first user and a second user;   generate a hash value of the identified final version of the document generated based on the selected smart contract; and   maintain the hash value of the identified final version of the document generated based on the selected smart contract in the blockchain associated with the smart contract address; and   forward the identified final version of the document with the smart contract address to the second user for electronic signature.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processor of electronic signature component when executing the programming instructions is operable to:
 forward the identified final version of the document, select a contract attribute for application to the smart contract from a menu of contract attributes, wherein the menu of contract attributes includes:
 an order of signatures in the smart contract, a signing period date by which the smart contract must be ratified by the first user and the second user, a number of required signatures, a list entities, and persons required to execute the smart contract, a contract expiration date, or a delivery verification. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processor of electronic signature component when executing the programming instructions is operable to:
 maintain a first user copy of the hash value of the identified final version of the document in the blockchain associated with a blockchain address of the first user; and   maintain a second user copy of the hash value of the identified final version of the document in the blockchain associated with a blockchain address of the second user.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processor of electronic signature component when executing the programming instructions is operable to:
 based on attributes and settings of the selected smart contract, forward one or more indications of required signatures, signatures not yet received, a required review and review substantiation, an order of signatures, or an order of required signatures dictated by the settings in the smart contract to the first user's computing device.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a computing device associated with the first user, wherein the computing device includes a display device.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the processor of electronic signature component executing the programming instructions is operable to:
 receive confirmation from the smart contract that the smart contract is completed; and   present the confirmation on the display of the computing device associated with the first user.