METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANAGING DATA ASSOCIATED WITH AT LEAST ONE TECHNICAL PRODUCT

Abstract

A method, in particular, a computer-implemented method, for managing data associated with a product pool including at least two technical products, in particular, machines or vehicles, using a multiparty computation (MPC) process. The method includes the following steps: receiving first input data at at least one first MPC node, the first input data including operating data of the at least one first product, and receiving second input data at an at least one second MPC node, the second input data including operating data of the at least one second product, receiving further input data at one further MPC node, the further input data including the data associated with the product pool, calculating a distribution function based on the first input data, on the second input data and on the further input data, and outputting the distribution function.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing data associated with a product pool including at least two technical products, using a multiparty computation (MPC) process, the method comprising the following steps: receiving first input data at at least one first MPC node, the first input data including operating data of the at least one first product of the at least two technical products, and receiving second input data at at least one second MPC node, the second input data including operating data of at least one second product of the at least two technical products; receiving further input data at one further MPC node, the further input data including the data associated with the product pool; calculating a distribution function based on the first input data, on the second input data, and on the further input data; and outputting the distribution function.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least two technical products include machines or vehicles.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein: (i) the operating data of the at least one first product and the at least one second product and/or (ii) the data associated with the product pool, are cryptographically secured.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the securing takes place using signatures or hash trees.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein: (i) the operating data of the at least one first product and the at least one second product and/or (ii) the data associated with the product pool, are encrypted.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein steps of the MPC process are carried out cyclically.

7. A multiparty computation (MPC) network, comprising: at least one first MPC node configured to receive first input data; at least one second MPC node configured to receive second input data; and at least one further MPC node configured to receive further input data; wherein the network is configured to manage data associated with a product pool including at least two technical products, using an MPC process, the network configured to: receive first input data at the at least one first MPC node, the first input data including operating data of at least one first product of the at least two technical products, and receive second input data at the at least one second MPC node, the second input data including operating data of at least one second product of the at least two technical products; receive further input data at the at least one further MPC node, the further input data including the data associated with the product pool; calculate a distribution function based on the first input data, on the second input data, and on the further input data; and output the distribution function.

8. A technical product, the product being configured to ascertain operating data and to transfer the operating data to a first multiparty computation (MPC) node of an MPC network, the network configured to manage data associated with a product pool including at least two technical products including the product, using an MPC process, the product being configured to ascertain operating data and/or transfer the operating data periodically, the product being configured to encrypt and/or cryptographically secure at least a portion of the operating data prior to the transfer, the MPC network including: the least one first MPC node configured to receive first input data; at least one second MPC node configured to receive second input data; and at least one further MPC node configured to receive further input data; wherein the network is configured to manage data associated with a product pool including at least two technical products, using an MPC process, the network configured to: receive first input data at the at least one first MPC node, the first input data including operating data of the product, and receive second input data at the at least one second MPC node, the second input data including operating data of at least one second product of the at least two technical products; receive further input data at the at least one further MPC node, the further input data including the data associated with the product pool; calculate a distribution function based on the first input data, on the second input data, and on the further input data; and output the distribution function.

9. The technical product as recited in claim 8, wherein the technical product is a machine or a vehicle.

10. A system comprising: at least two technical products; and a multiparty computation (MPC) network, including: at least one first MPC node configured to receive first input data; at least one second MPC node configured to receive second input data; and at least one further MPC node configured to receive further input data; wherein the network is configured to manage data associated with a product pool including the at least two technical products, using an MPC communication process, the network configured to: receive first input data at the at least one first MPC node, the first input data including operating data of at least one first product of the at least two technical products, and receive second input data at the at least one second MPC node, the second input data including operating data of at least one second product of the at least two technical products; receive further input data at the at least one further MPC node, the further input data including the data associated with the product pool; calculate a distribution function based on the first input data, on the second input data, and on the further input data; and output the distribution function.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the at least two technical products include machines or vehicles.

12. The system as recited in claim 10, further comprising: at least one interface to a market and/or to a trading platform and/or or to an exchange.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which is stored a computer program including commands for managing data associated with a product pool including at least two technical products, using a multiparty computation (MPC) process, the commands, when executed by a computer, causing the computer to perform the following steps: receiving first input data at at least one first MPC node, the first input data including operating data of the at least one first product of the at least two technical products, and receiving second input data at at least one second MPC node, the second input data including operating data of at least one second product of the at least two technical products; receiving further input data at one further MPC node, the further input data including the data associated with the product pool; calculating a distribution function based on the first input data, on the second input data, and on the further input data; and outputting the distribution function.

14. A method for managing data associated with a product pool including at least two technical products using a multiparty computation (MPC) process, the method comprising the following steps: a) ascertaining and/or transferring encrypted and/or cryptographically secured operating data from the at least two products of the product pool; b) receiving the operating data of each of the at least two products as input data and data associated with the product pool, at a different respective MPC node, wherein the data associated with the product pool are investment data; c) calculating a distribution function based on the operating data received as the input data and on the data associated with the product pool; and d) outputting the distribution function to a payout component.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the at least two technical products include machines or vehicles.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein each of the at least two technical products are at different locations.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0044] FIG. 1 schematically shows a simplified block diagram according to preferred specific embodiments of the present invention.

[0045] FIG. 2 schematically shows a simplified flowchart of a method according to further preferred specific embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0046] FIG. 1 schematically shows a simplified block diagram according to preferred specific embodiments of the present invention. A system 1000 including a product pool 100 and a network 200 are depicted.

[0047] Product pool 100 according to the specific embodiment represented includes two technical products 110, 120. Alternatively, it may also be provided that product pool 100 includes multiple technical products 110, 120, in particular, a plurality of technical products 110, 120. Technical products 110, 120 in this case may be located at different locations and, if necessary, in different regions.

[0048] A technical product 110, 120 is, for example, a machine and/or a device, for example, a power machine or work machine. In further preferred specific embodiments, a technical product 110, 120 may, in general, also be an arbitrary type of investment goods.

[0049] Alternatively, a technical product 110, 120 may, for example, be a vehicle, in particular, a land vehicle and/or a watercraft and/or an aircraft and/or a spacecraft.

[0050] Technical products 110, 120 are designed to ascertain operating data B1, B2 and to transfer these to network 200. The operating data are advantageously encrypted and/or cryptographically secured.

[0051] The safeguarding takes place, for example, using signatures or hash trees. The encryption takes place, for example, based on an, in particular private, key assigned to respective product 110, 120. Products 110, 120 are designed, in particular, to carry out the encryption and/or the safeguarding.

[0052] Network 200 is an MPC network. Network 200 includes a first MPC node 210 for receiving first input data and a second MPC code 220 for receiving second input data. MPC nodes 210, 220 advantageously include a communication interface, in particular, for receiving the data from technical products 110, 120, and for communicating among one another.

[0053] The first input data include operating data B1 of first technical product 110.

[0054] The second input data include operating data B2 of second technical product 120.

[0055] According to the specific embodiment represented herein, network 200 includes a further MPC node 230 for receiving further input data.

[0056] The further input data according to the specific embodiment represented are data D associated with product pool 100. The data associated with the product pool are, for example, investment data, which characterize, in particular, assets or, in general, a share or part, for example, a share of the product pool.

[0057] Data D associated with the product pool according to the specific embodiment represented, are transferred from an external unit 300, for example, from a market and/or from a trading platform and/or from an exchange to further MPC nodes 230.

[0058] Data D associated with the product pool are advantageously also transferred in an encrypted and/or cryptographically secured manner.

[0059] Three further entities 410, 420, 430 are also represented in FIG. 1. Entities 410, 420, 430 are, for example, investors, who have each acquired a share of product pool 100 via external unit 300.

[0060] Network 200 according to the specific embodiment represented is designed to calculate a distribution function using an MPC process. For this purpose, MPC nodes 210, 220, 230 advantageously include one processing unit each.

[0061] By using the MPC process, it is possible to keep the input data secret. MPC nodes 210, 220, 230 receive the input data as multiple cryptographically secured shares, so-called secret shares. Alternatively, a respective MPC node 210, 220, 230 receives the input data and distributes these in the form of the cryptographically secured shares further to remaining MPC nodes 210, 220, 230. The respective input data are then known, in each case only to respective MPC node 210, 220, 230 that receives these input data. The distribution function is then calculated based on the cryptographically secured shares, the result of the calculation in turn being generated as multiple shares. The shares are then combined in turn to form the result, while the input data remain secret in the process. An MPC protocol allows MPC nodes 210, 220, 230 to calculate the distribution function in a secure and distributed manner.

[0062] The calculated distribution function is then transferred to a payout component 500, in particular, via a suitable interface. Based on the distribution function, an amount of the payment to a respective investor 410, 420, 430 is determined by payout component 500 and the payment is advantageously carried out.

[0063] FIG. 2 shows steps of a method 2000 according to further preferred specific embodiments.

[0064] Method 2000 includes a step 2100 for ascertaining, in particular, encrypted and/or cryptographically secured operating data B1, B2 from the at least two products 110, 120 of product pool 100.

[0065] Method 2000 further includes a step 2200 for transferring, in particular, encrypted and/or cryptographically secured operating data B1, B2 from the at least two products 110, 120 of product pool 100 to MPC nodes 210, 220 of network 200.

[0066] Method 2000 further includes a step 2300 for receiving first input data at first MPC node 210, the first input data including operating data B1 of first product 110, and receiving 2300 second input data B2 at second MPC node 220, the second input data including operating data B2 of second product 120, and receiving 2300 further input data at third MPC node 230, the further input data including data D associated with product pool 100.

[0067] Method 2000 further includes a step 2400 for calculating the distribution function based on the first input data, on the second input data and on the further input data.

[0068] Method 2000 further includes a step 2500 for outputting the distribution function, in particular, to payout component 500. All steps of method 2000 are advantageously carried out repeatedly, in particular, periodically, and/or at predefinable points in time.