Transaction authentication and verification using text messages and a distributed ledger

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer media for authenticating transactions, storing transaction information, communicating with users, and providing proof of transactions using text messages (e.g., text messaging on a feature phone) and a distributed ledger are described herein. A text-messaging communication session can be established between a user's mobile device and a distributed ledger. In the communication session, transaction information for a transaction associated with the user can be transmitted from the mobile device to the distributed ledger via text message. A geolocation of the mobile device can be extracted from the text message(s). The transaction information can be encrypted and stored, along with the geolocation of the mobile device, directly in the distributed ledger in association with the user. Upon receiving a request for proof of the transaction, the encrypted transaction information stored directly in the distributed ledger can be decrypted and provided and as proof of the transaction.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A computing device comprising one or more processors and one or more computer-readable storage media having stored therein computer-executable instructions for causing the one or more processors, when programmed thereby, to perform operations comprising:
 establishing a text-messaging communication session between a mobile device associated with a user and a distributed ledger;   in the communication session, transmitting transaction information for a transaction associated with the user from the mobile device to the distributed ledger via one or more text messages;   extracting a geolocation of the mobile device from the one or more text messages;   encrypting the transaction information and storing the encrypted transaction information, along with the geolocation of the mobile device, directly in the distributed ledger in association with the user; and   upon receiving a request for proof of the transaction, decrypting the encrypted transaction information stored directly in the distributed ledger and providing the decrypted transaction information as proof of the transaction.   
     
     
         2 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the provided proof of the transaction also includes the stored geolocation of the mobile device. 
     
     
         3 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the proof of the transaction is provided to a requesting mobile device through one or more additional text messages. 
     
     
         4 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the encrypted transaction information and geolocation of the mobile device that are stored in the distributed ledger are not stored in a data store or digital wallet associated with the distributed ledger. 
     
     
         5 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is a feature phone. 
     
     
         6 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the proof of the transaction is considered verified because of the immutable nature of the distributed ledger. 
     
     
         7 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the user and a second user associated with the request for proof of the transaction are both participants in a distributed-ledger-based transaction platform. 
     
     
         8 . The computing device of  claim 7 , wherein the encrypted transaction information stored directly in the distributed ledger, and encrypted transaction information for multiple additional transactions that is also stored directly in the distributed ledger in association with the user, are part of a profile for the user in the distributed-ledger-based transaction platform. 
     
     
         9 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein provision of the proof of transaction is recorded and stored in the distributed ledger as part of the profile for the user. 
     
     
         10 . The computing device of  claim 1 , further comprising prior to providing the decrypted transaction information as proof of the transaction, transmitting a request from the distributed ledger to the mobile device associated with the user via text message to authorize provision of the proof of the transaction and receiving a text message from the mobile device associated with the user authorizing provision of the proof of the transaction. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 at a distributed ledger, receiving transaction information for a transaction via a text message from a first user, wherein the text message has an associated geolocation;   authenticating the transaction using (i) user information for the first user stored in the distributed ledger and (ii) the geolocation associated with the text message; and   encrypting the transaction information and geolocation and storing the encrypted transaction information and geolocation directly in the distributed ledger in association with the first user, wherein direct storage in the distributed ledger allows the encrypted and stored transaction information and geolocation to be used as verified proof of the transaction.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the text message is received from a feature phone associated with the first user. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing the transaction information and geolocation from the distributed ledger to a second user as verified proof of the transaction via one or more additional text messages. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein prior to providing the transaction information and geolocation from the distributed ledger to the second user as verified proof of the transaction, notice that the verified proof of the transaction will be provided is transmitted to the first user via text message from the distributed ledger. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first user and the second user are both participants in a distributed-ledger-based transaction platform. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the encrypted transaction information and geolocation that are stored in the distributed ledger are not stored in a data store or digital wallet associated with the distributed ledger. 
     
     
         17 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions to cause a computer system, when programmed thereby, to perform operations comprising:
 in a distributed-ledger-based transaction platform, receiving text messages from a group of users of the transaction platform containing transaction information and geolocation information for a plurality of transactions;   for the respective transactions, encrypting the corresponding transaction information and geolocation information for the transaction and storing the encrypted transaction information and geolocation information directly in a distributed ledger in association with an associated user of the group of users, where for the respective users, the encrypted and stored transaction information and geolocation information forms a profile for the user in the distributed-ledger-based transaction platform, the profile being stored directly in the distributed ledger;   receiving a request for proof of a first transaction associated with a first user; and   retrieving transaction information and geolocation information corresponding to the first transaction from the distributed ledger and providing the retrieved transaction information and geolocation information via text message as proof of the first transaction.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable media of  claim 17 , wherein at least some of the received text messages were sent using feature phones. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable media of  claim 17 , wherein the distributed-ledger-based transaction platform provides proof of transactions and authenticates transactions between participants. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable media of  claim 15 , further comprising authenticating one or more of the respective transactions using one or more of the profiles for users of the distributed-ledger-based transaction platform that are stored directly in the distributed ledger.