Merchant verification in an exchange item marketplace network

Abstract

A method for execution by a marketplace server includes generating, in accordance with a secure custody protocol, a secure block of an exchange item blockchain associated with an exchange item, wherein the secure block includes a public key that indicates a computing device has secure custody of the exchange item, information regarding an exchange item data file associated with the exchange item, and a signature of the marketplace server. The method further includes determining an acquisition process between the computing device and a merchant server requires verification of the merchant server. The method further includes obtaining a verification signature of the merchant server and generating a comparative verification signature. The method further includes determining the verification signature of the merchant server is authentic and facilitating exchange of the secure custody of the exchange item between the computing device and the merchant server in accordance with the secure custody protocol.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for execution by a marketplace server of a data communication system, the method comprising:
 generating, in accordance with a secure custody protocol, a secure block of an exchange item blockchain associated with an exchange item, wherein the secure block includes a public key associated with a computing device of the data communication system, information regarding an exchange item data file associated with the exchange item, and a signature of the marketplace server, wherein the signature is generated by signing at least a portion of the secure block with a private key of the marketplace server, and wherein the public key within the secure block indicates the computing device has secure custody of the exchange item;   determining an acquisition process between the computing device and a merchant server of the data communication system requires verification of the merchant server, wherein the acquisition process is performed to acquire an item from the merchant server utilizing the exchange item;   obtaining a verification signature of the merchant server, wherein the verification signature is generated by the merchant server signing at least a portion of the information regarding the exchange item data file;   generating a comparative verification signature by signing the at least the portion of the information regarding the exchange item data file;   determining the verification signature of the merchant server is authentic based on the comparative verification signature; and   facilitating exchange of the secure custody of the exchange item between the computing device and the merchant server in accordance with the secure custody protocol.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the acquisition process further comprises:
 sending, by the computing device, an acquisition request to acquire the item and an identity of the exchange item to the merchant server; and   sending, by the merchant server, a notice of the acquisition request and the identity of the exchange item to the marketplace server.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the determining the acquisition process requires verification comprises:
 interpreting the acquisition request to determine that the acquisition process requires verification, wherein the acquisition request includes a verification indicator.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the determining the acquisition process requires verification comprises:
 identifying that the exchange item is of a type that requires verification of the merchant server.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining the verification signature of the merchant server is authentic comprises:
 comparing the comparative verification signature to the verification signature; and   when the comparative verification signature substantially matches the verification signature, determining the verification signature is authentic.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the facilitating the exchange of the secure custody of the exchange item comprises:
 exchanging the secure custody of the exchange item data file from the computing device to the merchant server in accordance with the secure custody protocol;   while having the secure custody, updating, by the merchant server, the exchange item data file with information regarding the acquisition process of the item by the computing device via the exchange item; and   when the acquisition process has been executed, returning, by the merchant server, the secure custody of the updated exchange item data file to the computing device.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises:
 receiving use rules from an exchange item issuing server, wherein the use rules include a list of authenticating information for a plurality of merchant servers of the data communication system. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprises:
 obtaining, from the use rules, the list of authenticating information; 
 determining whether the merchant server is one of the plurality of merchant servers; and 
 when the merchant server is one of the plurality of merchant servers:
 accessing authenticating information of the list of authenticating information that is regarding the merchant server; and 
 generating the comparative verification signature based on the authenticating information. 
 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the list of authenticating information comprises:
 a public key of an individual public-private key pair of the merchant server.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the verification signature is created using a private key of the individual public-private key pair and the comparative verification signature is created using the public key of the individual public-private key pair. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the list of authenticating information comprises:
 a public key of a shared public-private key pair.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the shared public-private key pair is shared by a group of merchant servers of the plurality of merchant servers, and wherein the group of merchant servers the merchant server, and wherein the verification signature is created using a private key of the shared public-private key pair and the comparative verification signature is created using the public key of the shared public-private key pair. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the list of authenticating information comprises:
 a security identifier assigned to the merchant server.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the merchant server has a local copy of the security identifier and the marketplace server has a centralized copy of the security identifier, wherein the verification signature is created using the local copy of the security identifier, and wherein the comparative verification signature is created using the centralized copy of the security identifier. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the exchange item data file includes a quantifiable value and a serial number. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the exchange item data file includes issuance information. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises:
 creating, by an exchange item issuing server of the data communication system, a plurality of exchange items that includes the exchange item. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprises:
 receiving, from the exchange item issuing server, exchange item information regarding the plurality of exchange items. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the exchange item information comprises a rules set associated with the exchange item, wherein the rules set governs utilization of the exchange item within the data communication system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprises:
 determining an exchange item rule of the rules set associated with the exchange item allows for acquisition of the item.