Block-chain enabled service provider system

Abstract

A distributed ledger, e.g., blockchain, enabled operating environment includes a user device that accesses services of a service device by leveraging the decentralized blockchain. For example, a user device can lock/unlock a door (e.g., service device) by interfacing with a smart contract stored on the decentralized blockchain. The user device provides parameters, such as payment, that satisfies the variables of the smart contract such that the user device can access the service device. The service device regularly retrieves information stored in the smart contract on the decentralized blockchain. For example, the retrieved information can specify that the user device is authorized to access the service device or that the service device is to provide a service. Therefore, given the retrieved information, the service device provides the service to the user device.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 receiving a request for a selected service;   obtaining, from the request, a user identifier; and   determining, based on the user identifier and a permission data structure associated with a service device corresponding to the selected service, whether to provide the selected service, wherein the permission data structure is maintained on a distributed ledger and comprises one or more user identifiers that have been granted access to the service device.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the permission data structure associated with the service device is stored locally on the service device. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the permission data structure is managed by a smart contract on the distributed ledger. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the smart contract is configured to mediate a value transfer associated with the selected service. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the value transfer comprises a transfer of one or more tokens. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the smart contract is listed in a register as being associated with the selected service. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the smart contract comprises a first smart contract, and wherein the register is managed by a second smart contract on the distributed ledger. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein determining whether to provide the selected service comprises:
 determining whether the user identifier is listed in the permission data structure.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 polling the distributed ledger to synchronize a local copy of the permission data structure.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 in response to determining that the selected service is to be provided, causing the service device to provide the selected service.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein causing the service device to provide the selected service comprises:
 queuing a service request on the distributed ledger.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the request for the selected service indicates one or more options selected from a plurality of options for the selected service. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the selected service comprises one or more services selected from a group comprising: access to a selected physical space, access to a selected piece of equipment, and access to a selected container. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the request for the selected service is received from a user device via one or more of a wireless local area network, a wireless personal area network, or a near-field communication. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 sending, to the user device, a request to poll a smart contract that manages the permission data structure on the distributed ledger,   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the request to poll the smart contract indicates a client that is selected. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 selecting the client from a whitelist of clients, wherein the whitelist of clients stores a public key of the client.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 using the public key of the client to check a signature in a response received via the user device.   
     
     
         39 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising memory with instructions encoded thereon, the instructions, when executed, causing one or more processors to perform operations, the instructions comprising instructions to:
 receive a request for a selected service;   obtain from the request, a user identifier; and   determine, based on the user identifier and a permission data structure associated with a service device corresponding to the selected service, whether to provide the selected service, wherein the permission data structure is maintained on a distributed ledger and comprises one or more user identifiers that have been granted access to the service device.   
     
     
         40 . A system comprising:
 memory with instructions encoded thereon; and   one or more processors that, when executing the instructions, are caused to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a request for a selected service; 
 obtaining, from the request, a user identifier; and 
 determining, based on the user identifier and a permission data structure associated with a service device corresponding to the selected service, whether to provide the selected service, wherein the permission data structure is maintained on a distributed ledger and comprises one or more user identifiers that have been granted access to the service device.