Blockchain based account funding and distribution

Abstract

The present methods and systems relate to using and accessing data stored in a blockchain, and in particular, interacting with the blockchain and users via smart contracts to handle account funding and distribution methods. The methods and systems include receiving a transaction from a participant, and verifying the transaction, such as by accessing a smart contract stored on the blockchain and checking a set of parameters against a set of conditions stored in the smart contract. Depending on whether the set of parameters satisfy the conditions, the results may be communicated to participants about the success or failure of the transaction.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for using and accessing contractor evaluations stored on a blockchain maintained by a plurality of participants, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a processor coupled to a network interface, at least one contractor evaluation for a contractor from at least one participant of the plurality of participants, wherein the at least one contractor evaluation includes an evaluation, an evaluator, and a set of contractor information;   verifying, at the processor, the evaluation, the evaluator, and the set of contractor information;   determining, at the processor, whether or not the set of contractor information is stored on the blockchain;   when the set of contractor information is stored on the blockchain, generating, at the processor, a transaction involving the evaluation, the evaluated, and the evaluator, or alternatively, when the set of contractor information is not stored on the blockchain, generating, at the processor, a transaction involving the set of contractor information and the evaluation, the evaluated, and the evaluator; and   transmitting, via the processor coupled to the network interface, the transaction to the plurality of participants.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the contractor evaluation is received from a customer who purchased services from the contractor identified in the at least one contractor evaluation. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the at least one contractor evaluation further comprises:
 receiving, at the processor, a transaction that includes the at least one contractor evaluation; and   verifying, at the processor, a cryptographic hash included in the transaction.   
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein verifying the evaluation, the evaluator, and the set of contractor information further comprises:
 checking, at the processor, the validity of the information supplied for the evaluation, the evaluator, and the set of contractor information with at least one other participant of the plurality of participants; and   when the information is not valid, receiving, via the processor, a communication from the at least one other participant that the supplied information is invalid.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein verifying that the set of contractor information is stored on the blockchain further comprises:
 searching, via the processor, for an address for a transaction stored in the blockchain with a contractor identifier included in the set of contractor information.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the transaction involving the evaluation, the evaluated, and the evaluator further comprises:
 adding, at the processor, a reference to an address in the blockchain where the set of contractor information is stored to the transaction.   
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the processor, a block of transactions;   verifying, at the processor, a cryptographic hash stored in the block of transactions; and   adding, the block of transactions, to a copy of the blockchain stored by the participant.   
     
     
         8 . A computer-implemented method for using and accessing contractor evaluations stored on a blockchain maintained by a plurality of participants, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a processor coupled to a network interface, at least one contractor evaluation for a contractor from at least one participant of the plurality of participants, wherein the at least one contractor evaluation includes an evaluation, a evaluator, and a set of contractor information;   verifying, at the processor, the evaluation, the evaluator, and the set of contractor information;   determining, at the processor, whether or not the set of contractor information is stored on the blockchain;   when the set of contractor information is stored on the blockchain, generating, at the processor, a transaction including the evaluation, or alternatively, when the set of contractor information is not stored on the blockchain, generating, at the processor, a transaction involving the set of contractor information and the evaluation;   adding, at the processor, the transaction to a block of transactions;   generating, at the processor, a solution to a cryptographic puzzle for the block of transactions;   transmitting, at the processor coupled with the network interface, the block of transactions and the solution for the cryptographic puzzle to at least one other participant; and   transmitting, via the processor coupled to the network interface, the transaction to the plurality of participants.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the contractor evaluation is received from a customer who purchased services from the contractor identified in the at least one contractor evaluation. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein receiving the at least one contractor evaluation further comprises:
 receiving, at the processor, a transaction that includes the at least one contractor evaluation; and   verifying, at the processor, a cryptographic hash included in the transaction.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein verifying the evaluation, the evaluator, and the set of contractor information further comprises:
 checking, at the processor, the validity of the information supplied for the evaluation, the evaluator, and the set of contractor information with at least one other participant of the plurality of participants; and   when the information is not valid, receiving, via the processor, a communication from the at least one other participant that the supplied information is invalid.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein verifying that the set of contractor information is stored on the blockchain further comprises:
 searching, via the processor, for an address for a transaction stored in the blockchain with a contractor identifier included in the set of contractor information.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein generating the transaction involving the evaluation, the evaluated, and the evaluator further comprises:
 adding, at the processor, a reference to an address in the blockchain where the set of contractor information is stored to the transaction.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the processor, a block of transactions;   verifying, at the processor, a cryptographic hash stored in the block of transactions; and   adding, the block of transactions, to a copy of the blockchain stored by the participant.   
     
     
         15 . A computer system for using and accessing contractor evaluations stored on a blockchain maintained by a plurality of participants, the computer system comprising:
 a memory configured to store non-transitory computer executable instructions; and   a processor configured to interface with the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the processor to:   receive at least one contractor evaluation for a contractor from at least one participant of the plurality of participants, wherein the at least one contractor evaluation includes an evaluation, an evaluator, and a set of contractor information;   validate the evaluation, the evaluator, and the set of contractor information;   verify whether or not the set of contractor information is stored on the blockchain; and   when the set of contractor information is stored on the blockchain, generate a transaction involving the evaluation, the evaluator, and the evaluation, or alternatively, when the set of contractor information is not stored on the blockchain, generate a transaction involving the set of contractor information and the evaluation; and transmit the transaction to the plurality of participants.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the contractor evaluation is received from a customer who purchased services from the contractor identified in the at least one contractor evaluation. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein receive the at least one contractor evaluation further comprises:
 receive a transaction that includes the at least one contractor evaluation; and   verify a cryptographic hash included in the transaction.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein verify the evaluation, the evaluator, and the set of contractor information further comprises:
 check the validity of the information supplied for the evaluation, the evaluator, and the set of contractor information with at least one other participant of the plurality of participants; and   when the information is not valid, receive a communication from the at least one other participant that the supplied information is invalid.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein verify that the set of contractor information is stored on the blockchain further comprises:
 search for an address for a transaction stored in the blockchain with a contractor identifier included in the set of contractor information.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein generate the transaction involving the evaluation, the evaluated, and the evaluator further comprises:
 add a reference to an address in the blockchain where the set of contractor information is stored to the transaction.