Connecting Database Assets to a Blockchain for Ownership Tracking
This patent describes a way to link digital assets stored in a traditional cloud database to a blockchain-like system, called a distributed trust ledger, using smart contracts to track ownership.
Original patent title: “Database system public trust ledger architecture”
This patent describes a way to link digital assets stored in a traditional cloud database to a blockchain-like system, called a distributed trust ledger, using smart contracts to track ownership. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The system identifies a digital asset, like a unique piece of data, that is already stored in a regular database used by many different groups. This digital asset is owned by one of these groups. The system then creates a 'smart contract' that includes a special digital marker, called a token, for this asset. This smart contract is recorded on a 'distributed trust ledger,' which is like a public, unchangeable record. The token on this ledger is owned by a specific account, and the system makes sure that the original owner in the database is linked to this account on the ledger. Finally, the original database is updated to show that the digital asset is now linked to its token on the distributed ledger. For example, a company managing digital licenses in a cloud database could use this to create verifiable blockchain tokens for each licenselicensePermission from the patent owner to make, use, or sell the invention — usually in exchange for payment. Doesn't transfer ownership.Read more →, proving ownership and transfer history.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover creating a digital asset directly on the distributed trust ledger without first identifying it in an on-demand database system.
- Does not cover systems where the digital asset is not 'owned by a first one of the plurality of entities' within the database system.
- Does not cover a system that does not include a correspondence linking the first entity (database owner) with the first account (ledger owner).
- Does not cover a system that does not update the on-demand database system to include a reference linking the digital asset with the token.
- Does not cover a distributed ledger that is not designed to be a 'trust ledger' or is not distributed among multiple entities.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the explicit, two-way synchronization mechanism that connects an existing digital asset in a traditional, multi-entity 'on-demand database system' to a token on a 'distributed trust ledger,' ensuring consistent ownership records across both platforms.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Systems for tokenizing real estate or other physical assets represented in a database.
Digital rights management platforms linking content licenses to blockchain tokens.
Supply chain tracking systems verifying product ownership and movement.
Platforms for managing digital collectibles or in-game assets with verifiable ownership.
Enterprise blockchain solutions integrating legacy data systems.
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology matters because it bridges the gap between traditional database systems, which are good for managing large amounts of data, and distributed trust ledgers (like blockchains), which are excellent for verifying ownership and ensuring data integrity. By linking assets from existing databases to a ledger, it allows for transparent and immutable proof of ownership for digital items, which can be crucial for digital rights, supply chain tracking, or financial instruments. This approach enhances trust and auditability for digital assets managed across different systems.
Filed
August 24, 2021
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major cloud providers like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud are building services that allow enterprises to integrate their existing databases with blockchain solutions. Companies specializing in enterprise blockchain, such as IBM Blockchain and ConsenSys, are also developing platforms that enable the tokenization and tracking of assets across hybrid database and ledger environments. Fintech startups focused on asset tokenization are actively using similar architectural patterns.
Market impact
This type of architecture enables enterprises to leverage the benefits of blockchain for trust and transparency without completely overhauling their existing database infrastructure. It facilitates the creation of new markets for tokenized assets, allowing for more liquid and verifiable ownership of digital and real-world items. This approach helps reduce friction in cross-organizational data sharing and verification, potentially leading to more efficient supply chains and financial systems.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The system identifies a digital asset, like a unique piece of data, that is already stored in a regular database used by many different groups. This digital asset is owned by one of these groups. The system then creates a 'smart contract' that includes a special digital marker, called a token, for this asset. This smart contract is recorded on a 'distributed trust ledger,' which is like a public, unchangeable record. The token on this ledger is owned by a specific account, and the system makes sure that the original owner in the database is linked to this account on the ledger. Finally, the original database is updated to show that the digital asset is now linked to its token on the distributed ledger. For example, a company managing digital licenses in a cloud database could use this to create verifiable blockchain tokens for each license, proving ownership and transfer history.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the explicit, two-way synchronization mechanism that connects an existing digital asset in a traditional, multi-entity 'on-demand database system' to a token on a 'distributed trust ledger,' ensuring consistent ownership records across both platforms.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover creating a digital asset directly on the distributed trust ledger without first identifying it in an on-demand database system.
- Does not cover systems where the digital asset is not 'owned by a first one of the plurality of entities' within the database system.
- Does not cover a system that does not include a correspondence linking the first entity (database owner) with the first account (ledger owner).
- Does not cover a system that does not update the on-demand database system to include a reference linking the digital asset with the token.
- Does not cover a distributed ledger that is not designed to be a 'trust ledger' or is not distributed among multiple entities.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$17K – $54K
Midpoint $34K · 14.9 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). Connecting Database Assets to a Blockchain for Ownership Tracking (U.S. Patent No. 12,737,348). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12737348/database-system-public-trust-ledger-architecture
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Connecting Database Assets to a Blockchain for Ownership Tracking cover?
This patent describes a way to link digital assets stored in a traditional cloud database to a blockchain-like system, called a distributed trust ledger, using smart contracts to track ownership.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology matters because it bridges the gap between traditional database systems, which are good for managing large amounts of data, and distributed trust ledgers (like blockchains), which are excellent for verifying ownership and ensuring data integrity. By linking assets from existing databases to a ledger, it allows for transparent and immutable proof of ownership for digital items, which can be crucial for digital rights, supply chain tracking, or financial instruments. This approach enhances trust and auditability for digital assets managed across different systems.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover creating a digital asset directly on the distributed trust ledger without first identifying it in an on-demand database system.
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