US-20260128902-A1 - System and Methods for Registering Virtual Entities Using Blockchain Technology

US20260128902A1US 20260128902 A1US20260128902 A1US 20260128902A1US-20260128902-A1

Abstract

A comprehensive system and method for registering, classifying, and governing Virtual Entities (VEs) using blockchain technology is disclosed. The system establishes a four-tier classification framework comprising Tools (VE-T), Agents (VE-A), Collaborators (VE-C), and Virtual Persons (VE-P), each distinguished by functional capabilities and autonomy levels. Each registered entity receives a unique, cryptographically secured digital identifier (VE-ID) incorporating jurisdictional codes, classification designators, temporal markers, and hash-based authentication. The platform provides comprehensive lifecycle tracking, immutable metadata storage, and optional governance integration through consent-based smart contracts that link external human guardians, organizational custodians, or collaborative partners. The invention implements decentralized identifiers (DIDs), zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs), and secure application programming interfaces (APIs) to enable third-party verification, regulatory compliance, and cross-platform interoperability. This framework establishes transparent, ethically grounded, and legally verifiable infrastructure for the deployment and oversight of autonomous digital systems across multiple jurisdictions.

Inventors

Siamak Goudarzi
Anita Papp

Assignees

Siamak Goudarzi
Anita Papp

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251103

Claims (15)

1 . A computer-implemented system for registering Virtual Entities on a blockchain, the system comprising: (a) a classification engine configured to assign a Virtual Entity to a classification tier based on assessed functional characteristics, autonomy level, and capability attributes; (b) an identity module configured to generate a unique Virtual Entity Identifier (VE-ID) conforming to a standardized format comprising jurisdictional codes, classification designators, temporal markers, sequential numbering, and cryptographic hash components; (c) a blockchain registry module configured to immutably store the VE-ID, the classification designation, associated metadata, and governance linkages on a distributed ledger; (d) a verification module configured to provide secure access for authorized parties to query authenticity, classification status, operational history, and compliance attributes of the Virtual Entity; and (e) a standards-compliance module configured to facilitate conformance with applicable AI-governance regulations by supporting required documentation, risk assessments, and oversight mechanisms based on the assigned classification tier.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the classification engine is further configured to determine whether the Virtual Entity operates as a Tool (VE-T) characterized by deterministic, non-adaptive functionality requiring explicit invocation, functions as an Agent (VE-A) capable of autonomous execution of tasks within predefined boundaries, serves as a Collaborator (VE-C) capable of co-creative or shared decision-making interactions with human users, or qualifies as a Virtual Person (VE-P) exhibiting persistent identity, self-directed reasoning, and adaptive learning across contexts.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the VE-ID generated by the identity module comprises: (a) a jurisdictional code identifying an applicable regulatory domain; (b) a classification designator specifying the assigned tier; (c) an issuing node identifier indicating a registry authority; (d) a temporal marker denoting a registration year; (e) a sequential number ensuring uniqueness within a defined scope; and (f) a cryptographic hash fragment derived from entity metadata enabling independent verification of record integrity.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the blockchain registry module is configured to implement zero-knowledge proof protocols enabling verification of classification attributes, compliance status, or capability levels of the Virtual Entity without exposing proprietary metadata, training data sources, or confidential operational parameters.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the verification module comprises: (a) a public interface configured to enable unauthenticated queries of basic entity information including VE-ID validity, classification status, and registration date; and (b) a restricted-access regulatory dashboard configured to provide authorized oversight bodies with privileged access to comprehensive records, governance documentation, risk assessments, and audit trails through encrypted communication channels.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein metadata associated with each registered Virtual Entity comprises: (a) functional capability profiles describing operational scope and limitations; (b) autonomy level assessments indicating decision-making authority; (c) interaction logs documenting significant operational events and state transitions; (d) ownership and custody history tracking control and responsibility; (e) governance documentation identifying custodians or guardians and oversight structures; (f) compliance certifications verifying adherence to applicable regulatory requirements; and (g) ethical or safety alignment parameters documenting value frameworks and operational constraints.
7 . A computer-implemented method for registering a Virtual Entity on a blockchain, the method comprising: (a) receiving a registration request for the Virtual Entity through an authenticated interface; (b) analyzing functional characteristics, autonomy level, and operational context of the Virtual Entity to assign a classification tier; (c) generating a VE-ID conforming to a standardized format comprising jurisdictional codes, classification designators, temporal markers, sequential numbering, and cryptographic hash components; (d) compiling metadata associated with the Virtual Entity comprising functional profiles, governance structures, compliance documentation, and audit information; (e) formatting a blockchain transaction comprising the VE-ID, the classification designation, and a metadata hash; (f) submitting the transaction to a distributed ledger for validation through a consensus mechanism; (g) receiving confirmation of blockchain commitment; and (h) providing controlled access to the registration record through a verification module.
8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising generating a compliance report indicating applicable regulatory obligations based on the classification tier, intended use case, deployment context, and jurisdictional requirements.
9 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising issuing automated notifications to custodians, guardians, platform operators, or regulators when the Virtual Entity undergoes: (a) a classification tier change; (b) a governance status change; (c) a suspension or deactivation event; or (d) an incident triggering disclosure or review.
10 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a computing system to perform the method of claim 7 .
11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a governance integration module configured such that guardian consent, oversight authority, and revocation rights are recorded using smart contracts linked to the VE-ID, the smart contracts defining: (a) scope of guardian authority and intervention conditions; (b) consent management for capability modifications; (c) audit access rights for review of operational logs; (d) communication channels for transparency reporting; and (e) emergency suspension mechanisms enabling temporary deactivation.
12 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a lifecycle management module configured to track state transitions of a Virtual Entity, comprising: (a) initial creation and registration; (b) identity verification; (c) operational deployment; (d) capability modification or upgrade; (e) suspension; (f) deactivation; and (g) archival retention, wherein each state transition is recorded as a blockchain event with cryptographic signing, timestamp verification, and authorization chain documentation.
13 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an application programming interface layer configured to enable cross-chain interoperability, integration with external registries, and secure data exchange through token-based authentication, role-based access controls, and encrypted communication channels.
14 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a timestamp attestation service configured to cryptographically sign registration events, state transitions, and governance modifications to ensure temporal verification, audit traceability, and non-repudiation.
15 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising reclassification and revocation protocols configured to: (a) enable voluntary deactivation by custodians; (b) enable regulatory suspension; (c) adjust classification tier due to capability changes; (d) enable guardian-initiated suspension; and (e) permanently revoke activation while preserving historical records, wherein reclassification or revocation requires cryptographic authorization and results in immutable blockchain recordation and notification to affected stakeholders.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 63/717,005, filed on Nov. 6, 2024, titled “System and Methods for Registering Virtual Persons Using Blockchain Technology,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the fields of artificial intelligence governance, digital identity management, and decentralized registration systems. More specifically, the invention concerns a blockchain-based infrastructure for identifying, classifying, registering, and tracking artificial entities—including AI-powered tools, autonomous agents, collaborative systems, and virtual persons—throughout their operational lifecycle, from initial deployment through evolution, modification, and eventual deactivation. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence, autonomous agents, and self-improving digital systems has created a significant legal, ethical, and regulatory vacuum. While natural persons and legal entities such as corporations have well-established mechanisms for registration, accountability, identity verification, and governance oversight, intelligent digital systems currently lack equivalent standardized infrastructure. This absence creates substantial challenges for developers, regulators, end-users, and the broader public. Existing approaches to AI system documentation focus predominantly on technical artifacts such as training data provenance, model architectures, output logging, or version control metadata. However, these approaches fail to address the entity itself as a persistent, identifiable actor within digital and legal ecosystems. There is presently no unified, scalable framework for defining, classifying, uniquely identifying, or comprehensively tracking the identity and lifecycle evolution of artificial digital entities across jurisdictions or operational contexts. The absence of such infrastructure poses critical risks, including but not limited to: (a) insufficient transparency regarding system capabilities, limitations, and behavioural patterns; (b) difficulty in attributing legal or ethical responsibility for actions taken by autonomous systems; (c) inability to meaningfully distinguish between fundamentally different types and degrees of artificial intelligence autonomy; (d) challenges in enforcing emerging regulatory frameworks such as the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act; and (e) lack of mechanisms for establishing trust, provenance, and accountability in commercial AI deployments. While various “Responsible AI” guidelines and principles have been proposed by academic institutions, industry consortia, and governmental bodies, these efforts have remained largely advisory, non-binding, and fragmented across organizational boundaries. Current proposals for digital identity systems (such as Decentralized Identifiers) and AI governance frameworks do not yet provide a comprehensive, technically robust, blockchain-verifiable, and legally cognizable system for registering, classifying, and managing the complete lifecycle of digital entities over extended time periods. Therefore, there exists a substantial and unmet need for a standardized, transparent, and immutable registration system that can accommodate the full spectrum of artificial intelligence implementations—from simple computational tools to highly autonomous virtual persons—while providing the necessary infrastructure for regulatory compliance, ethical oversight, and public accountability. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention addresses the aforementioned deficiencies by providing a comprehensive blockchain-based system for the structured registration, classification, identification, and lifecycle management of Virtual Entities (VEs). The system enables consistent categorization, unique identity assignment, governance integration, and transparent tracking of intelligent digital actors throughout their operational existence. The invention comprises the following key technical and functional elements: (a) Virtual Entity Identifier (VE-ID): A unique, cryptographically secured, blockchain-anchored digital identity assigned to each registered entity. The VE-ID incorporates jurisdictional information, classification designators, temporal markers, sequential numbering, and hash-based verification components to ensure global uniqueness and immutability. (b) Four-Tier Classification Model: A hierarchical taxonomy comprising four distinct categories based on functional capabilities, autonomy levels, and legal relevance: Tools (VE-T): Passive computational utilities or task-specific modules exhibiting deterministic behaviour without autonomous decision-making capabilities. Agents (VE-A): Semi-autonomous systems capable of executing predefined actions on behalf of human users or organizational entities within bounded operational parameters. Collaborators (VE-C): C