Methods and apparatus to execute a workload in an edge environment are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a node scheduler to accept a task from a workload scheduler, the task including a description of a workload and tokens, a workload executor to execute the workload, the node scheduler to access a result of execution of the workload and provide the result to the workload scheduler, and a controller to access the tokens and distribute at least one of the tokens to at least one provider, the provider to provide a resource to the apparatus to execute the workload.

Systems and methods for asynchronous API-driven external application services for blockchain are provided. The blockchain may store profile data that permits asynchronous communications and data sharing among a plurality of trusted users, and an application server layer may act as a gateway to a blockchain system to selectively provide limited access to external application services to operate upon the blockchain data.

A method for verification of a data value via a Merkle root includes: storing, in a memory of a processing server, a Merkle root; receiving at least a data value, a nonce, and a plurality of hash path values; generating a combined value by combining the data value and the nonce; generating a first hash value via application of a hashing algorithm to the combined value; generating a subsequent hash value via application of the hashing algorithm to a combination of the first hash value and a first of the plurality of hash path values; repeating generation of the subsequent hash value using a combination of the next hash path value of the plurality of hash path values and the most recent subsequent hash value; and verifying the data value based on a comparison of the Merkle root and the last generated subsequent hash value.

Various systems and methods for implementing an edge computing system to realize 5G network slices with blockchain traceability for informed 5G service supply chain are disclosed. A system configured to track network slicing operations includes memory and processing circuitry configured to select a network slice instance (NSI) from a plurality of available NSIs based on an NSI type specified by a client node. The available NSIs uses virtualized network resources of a first network resource provider. The client node is associated with the selected NSI. The utilization of the network resources by the plurality of available NSIs is determined using an artificial intelligence (AI)-based network inferencing function. A ledger entry of associating the selected NSI with the client node is recorded in a distributed ledger, which further includes a second ledger entry indicating allocations of resource subsets to each of the NSIs based on the utilization.

A shard distribution apparatus and method are disclosed. The shard distribution apparatus can include a trust calculation unit configured to obtain a trust value for each of a multiple number of nodes in a blockchain network by receiving a consensus result from each of the multiple nodes, where the consensus result may be obtained by aggregating the result of verifying the validity of a block by each of the multiple nodes and the results of verifying the validity of the block received from other nodes; and a shard distribution unit configured to distribute the multiple nodes to a multiple number of shards by calculating a shard trust value, which is represented by a sum of trust values of nodes distributed to each of the multiple shards, and distributing the multiple nodes such that deviations of the calculated shard trust values are the smallest.

Provided herein is a computer-implemented method, a system, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The system may be implemented using a blockchain network. The computer-implemented method includes: i) attaching a digital asset of a first entity to an exchange platform; ii) computing a first shared key associated with the digital asset using a key of the first entity and a first key of the exchange platform; iii) generating and broadcasting a first blockchain transaction to a blockchain network; and iv) initiating, by the first entity, transfer of ownership of the digital asset from a first entity to a second entity; v) computing a second key and a second shared key; vi) replacing the first key associated with the exchange platform with the second key associated with the exchange platform; and vii) detaching, by the second entity, the deposit from the exchange platform using the second shared key.

There may be provided a computer-implemented method. It may be implemented using a blockchain such as, for example, the Bitcoin blockchain. The computer-implemented method includes: i) joining a congress by transferring, by a node operating in a proof-of-work blockchain network, one or more digital assets to a congress pool having one or more other digital assets associated with other members of a congress; ii) detecting, by the node, a special transaction of digital assets on the proof-of-work blockchain network to an address associated with the congress pool, the special transaction satisfying determined criteria; and iii) minting, by the node, one or more digital assets on a proof-of-stake blockchain network in response to detecting the special transaction.

A high-performance distributed ledger and transaction computing network fabric over which large numbers of transactions (involving the transformation, conversion or transfer of information or value) are processed concurrently in a scalable, reliable, secure and efficient manner. In one embodiment, the computing network fabric or “core” is configured to support a distributed blockchain network that organizes data in a manner that allows communication, processing and storage of blocks of the chain to be performed concurrently, with little synchronization, at very high performance and low latency, even when the transactions themselves originate from distant sources. This data organization relies on segmenting a transaction space within autonomous but cooperating computing nodes that are configured as a processing mesh. Each computing node typically is functionally-equivalent to all other nodes in the core. The nodes operate on blocks independently from one another while still maintaining a consistent and logically-complete view of the blockchain as a whole. According to another feature, secure transaction processing is facilitated by storing cryptographic key materials in secure and trusted computing environments associated with the computing nodes to facilitate construction of trust chains for transaction requests and their associated responses.

A system for monitoring flows of people inside a predetermined area includes at least one receiving unit with at least one antenna adapted to receiving identification data transmitted by mobile communication devices present in a monitored area, the receiving unit also provided with a device for processing the data collected by the antenna; a processing unit programmed to perform statistical processing of the data collected by the antenna and processed by the respective processing device; and a data transmission network which connects the at least one receiving unit with the statistical data processing unit. Additionally, the processing device which receives the data collected by the antenna is programmed to perform an anonymization process with compression of the data, such that the data transmitted on the data transmission network are data that cannot be related back to the individual mobile devices that have generated them.

A process for management of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices includes a management system for identifying, interrogating, and updating devices connected to one or more networks. The management system can include a data store for storing various data related to the devices and the various processes of the management system. The management system can include a controller for executing processes such as interrogation processes, firmware change processes, credential change processes, and other processes. The controller can determine versions of firmware and other configuration properties of a device and generate various profiles for updating the firmware and other configuration properties. The controller can determine upgrade paths for updating the firmware and other configuration properties from a first version to a second version, the upgrade paths including one or more intermediary versions for facilitating the upgrade path. The management system can update devices individually, on a device family basis, or on a system-wide basis.