Technology
How blockchain reconciliation works, why it matters, and what the Rock Innovation patents cover.
The Problem
Blockchain systems generate transaction records across multiple, independent ledgers. When organizations need to verify, combine, or reconcile data from these separate chains, there is no built-in mechanism to do so. Each blockchain operates independently.
The challenge grows when transactions involve supplemental records that live on different chains or in external systems. Pulling the right blocks, matching them to the right transactions, and assembling a verified result requires a structured approach.
How It Works
The patented reconciliation system follows a four-step process.
Connect
Block RetrievalThe system connects to one or more blockchains and retrieves blocks based on criteria received from connected devices.
Identify
Object CompilationThe compiler identifies supplemental objects associated with interaction objects and retrieves them from the blockchains.
Process
Rule-Based ProcessingPreconfigured rules are applied to determine how interaction and supplemental objects are combined into compilation objects.
Output
Verified ResultsCompilation objects are created and stored back on the blockchain, producing an auditable record of the reconciliation.
The Innovation
Rock Innovation's patents describe a block reconciliation computer with an object compiler. The system connects to one or more blockchains, receives criteria from connected devices, and retrieves blocks corresponding to preconfigured interaction objects.
The compiler then analyzes each interaction object to determine if there are associated supplemental objects that need to be retrieved. It requests supplemental blocks from the blockchains, processes them according to type (replacement or addendum), and applies preconfigured rules to create compilation objects.
The result is a structured system for turning raw blockchain data from multiple sources into verified, rule-based compilation outputs. The compilation objects are stored back on the blockchain, creating an auditable record of the reconciliation.
In Plain Terms
The same technology explained without technical jargon.
Gathering records from different sources
Imagine multiple filing cabinets in different buildings, each containing parts of a transaction. The system knows which cabinets to open and which files to pull.
Finding the related documents
For each file it pulls, the system checks whether there are related documents in other locations that are needed to complete the picture. It goes and gets those too.
Following rules to assemble the results
Once all the pieces are collected, the system follows a set of rules to combine them into a single, verified record. Some pieces replace older versions, others get added on.
Creating a verified final record
The assembled record is saved back as a permanent, auditable entry. Anyone who needs to can verify the work by retracing the steps.
What the Patents Cover
The patent family covers four core technical areas across 28 claims.
Block Retrieval
Connecting to one or more blockchains and retrieving blocks based on criteria received from connected devices.
Object Compilation
Identifying supplemental objects associated with interaction objects and assembling them into compilation objects using preconfigured rules.
Rule-Based Processing
Applying preconfigured rules from blockchains and external data sources to determine how interaction and supplemental objects are combined.
Multi-Device Connectivity
Receiving criteria from connected devices and providing API access to compilation objects across a network of connected systems.
Industry Impact
The technology described in these patents sits at the foundation of any system that needs to pull blockchain records from multiple sources and assemble them according to rules. This includes cross-chain bridges, DeFi protocols, Layer 2 scaling solutions, enterprise blockchain platforms, and financial settlement systems.
87 patent families from organizations including Microsoft, Visa, Mastercard, Samsung, Toyota, IBM, and Bank of America cite this patent family. These citations indicate that the USPTO considers Rock Innovation's work relevant prior art across a wide range of blockchain applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Blockchain reconciliation is the process of retrieving transaction records from one or more blockchains, comparing and combining those records with supplemental data, and producing verified compilation objects. It is the blockchain equivalent of traditional financial reconciliation, but applied to distributed ledger data across multiple chains.
Reading from a single blockchain is straightforward. The challenge arises when data must be pulled from multiple blockchains, cross-referenced against supplemental records, and assembled into a single output according to rules. That multi-step, multi-source process is what the patents cover.
Interaction objects represent the primary records being reconciled, such as transactions, users, companies, or devices involved in blockchain interactions. Supplemental objects are additional records associated with interaction objects that must be retrieved to complete the reconciliation. The patents describe how these objects are identified, retrieved, and combined.
Compilation objects are the output of the reconciliation process. They combine interaction objects and supplemental objects according to preconfigured rules, producing a verified, assembled record that is stored back on the blockchain. Think of them as the reconciled result set.
No. The patent claims are blockchain-agnostic. They describe the reconciliation method itself, not any particular blockchain protocol. Whether a system uses Ethereum, Hyperledger, Solana, or proprietary chains, the relevant question is whether it performs the claimed reconciliation steps.
The original application was filed with a priority date of November 19, 2016. This predates the launch of most commercial blockchain reconciliation systems and cross-chain protocols.
Interested in Licensing?
Rock Innovation offers licensing for companies whose products or services use blockchain reconciliation methods covered by these patents.