Weighted multiple authorizations

Abstract

A system for confirming an authorization to consume an output of a transaction based on multiple signatures with different authority weights is provided. The system confirms the authorization to consume the output when the combined authority weights of one or more authorities that provide their authorizations satisfy a threshold weight. The authority weight for each authority and the threshold weight are identified in an authorization specification that specifies the criterion for the authorization of a matter. The authorization specification also specifies authorization verification information for each authority. When the sum of the authority weights of the authorities whose authorizations have been verified is greater than or equal to the threshold weight, the system confirms the authorization to consume the output.

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A method, performed by a computing system having one or more processors and one or more memories, for confirming an authorization of a matter, the method comprising:
 accessing an authorization specification that specifies, for each of one or more authorities,
 signature verification information for one or more signatures, and 
 an authority weight associated with at least one of the one or more signatures; 
   receiving a request to confirm an authorization of a matter;   in response to receiving the request to confirm the authorization of the matter;
 accessing a plurality of signatures of a first authority of the one or more authorities; 
   for each of two or more accessed signatures,
 performing a verification check on the accessed signature based on the signature verification information specified by the accessed authorization specification; 
   combining the authority weights of the verified signatures;   determining that the combination of the authority weights of the verified signatures satisfies a threshold weight; and   in response to determining that the combination of the authority weights of the verified signatures satisfies the threshold weight,
 indicating that authorization of the matter has been confirmed. 
   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein accessing a plurality of signatures of the first authority comprises accessing a plurality of different private keys of the first authority, wherein each of the plurality of different private keys for the first authority is generated using a different algorithm. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 checking for cycles in the authorization specification in response to receiving a node of the authorization specification.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the signature verification information comprises public keys, the method further comprising:
 checking to ensure that there are no duplicate public keys in the authorization specification.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 ensuring that each sum of possible combinations of authority weights of child nodes of a first node in the authorization specification is not greater than a maximum integer value.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the authorization of the matter comprises authorization to record a transaction in a distributed ledger. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the authorization of the matter comprises at least one of authorization to execute a contract on behalf of a company, authorization to access a safety deposit box, authorization to leave a country, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the authorization of the matter comprises at least one of authorization to sell one or more assets, authorization to purchase one or more assets, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the authorization specification comprises at least one non-leaf node and a plurality of leaf nodes, the method further comprising:
 determining that a first non-leaf node of the authorization specification includes only one child node,   in response to determining that the first non-leaf node of the authorization specification includes only one child node,
 replacing the first non-leaf node of the authorization specification with the child node. 
   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the authority weights of the verified signatures are boolean values, wherein the threshold weight is a boolean value, and wherein determining that the combination of the authority weights of the verified signatures satisfies the threshold weight comprise evaluating a boolean expression. 
     
     
         46 . A computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing system having one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform a method for confirming an authorization of a matter, the method comprising:
 accessing an authorization specification that specifies, for each of one or more authorities,
 signature verification information for one or more signatures, and 
 an authority weight associated with at least one of the one or more signatures; 
   receiving a request to confirm an authorization to purchase or sell one or more assets;   in response to receiving the request to confirm the authorization of the matter;
 accessing a plurality of signatures of the one or more authorities; 
   for each of two or more accessed signatures,
 performing a verification check on the accessed signature based on the signature verification information specified by the accessed authorization specification; 
   combining the authority weights of the verified signatures;   determining that the combination of the authority weights of the verified signatures satisfies a threshold weight; and   in response to determining that the combination of the authority weights of the verified signatures satisfies the threshold weight,
 indicating that authorization of the matter has been confirmed. 
   
     
     
         47 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 46 , wherein accessing the plurality of signatures of the one or more authorities comprises accessing a plurality of different private keys of a first authority, wherein each of the plurality of different private keys for the first authority is generated using a different algorithm. 
     
     
         48 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 46 , the method further comprising:
 checking for cycles in the authorization specification in response to receiving a node of the authorization specification;   checking to ensure that there are no duplicate public keys in the authorization specification;   determining that a first non-leaf node of the authorization specification includes only one child node,
 in response to determining that the first non-leaf node of the authorization specification includes only one child node,
 replacing the first non-leaf node of the authorization specification with the child node; and 
 
   ensuring that each sum of possible combinations of authority weights of child nodes of a second non-leaf node in the authorization specification is not greater than a maximum integer value.   
     
     
         49 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 46 , wherein combining the authority weights of the verified signatures comprises generating a sum of the authority weights of the verified signatures. 
     
     
         50 . The computer readable medium of  claim 46 , wherein the authority weights of the verified signatures are boolean values. 
     
     
         51 . A computing system, having one or more processors and one or more memories, for confirming an authorization of a matter, the computing system comprising:
 a component configured to access an authorization specification that specifies, for each of one or more authorities,
 signature verification information for one or more signatures, and 
 an authority weight associated with at least one of the one or more signatures; 
   a component configured to check for cycles in the authorization specification in response to receiving a node of the authorization specification;   a component configured to, in response to determining that a first non-leaf node of the authorization specification includes only one child node, replace the first non-leaf node of the authorization specification with the child node;   a component configured to receive a request to confirm an authorization of a matter;   a component configured to, in response to receiving the request to confirm the authorization of the matter,
 access a plurality of signatures of a first authority of the one or more authorities; 
   a component configured to, for each of two or more accessed signatures,
 perform a verification check on the accessed signature based on the signature verification information specified by the accessed authorization specification; 
   a component configured to combine the authority weights of the verified signatures;   a component configured to determine that the combination of the authority weights of the verified signatures satisfies a threshold weight; and   a component configured to, in response to determining that the combination of the authority weights of the verified signatures satisfies the threshold weight,
 indicate that authorization of the matter has been confirmed. 
   
     
     
         52 . The computing system of  claim 51 , wherein the authorization of the matter comprises at least one of authorization to execute a contract on behalf of a company, authorization to access a safety deposit box, authorization to leave a country, authorization to sell one or more assets, authorization to purchase one or more assets, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         53 . The computing system of  claim 51 , wherein the signature verification information comprises public keys, the computing system further comprising:
 a component configured to check to ensure that there are no duplicate public keys in the authorization specification.   
     
     
         54 . The computing system of  claim 51 , further comprising:
 a component configured to ensure that each sum of possible combinations of authority weights of child nodes of a first node in the authorization specification is not greater than a maximum integer value.   
     
     
         55 . The computing system of  claim 51 , wherein the authority weights of the verified signatures are boolean values.