This document generally describes systems, methods, devices, and other techniques for using distributed ledgers, such as a blockchain database, to facilitate secure distribution and use of 3D model files to 3D printers over a computing network. A 3D printer controller may access an electronic ledger that identifies a plurality of 3D model files that have been made available for distribution. A particular 3D model file and a secret key may be obtained by the printer, where the 3D model file is encrypted based on the secret key. The secret key can be decrypted using a private key associated with the computing device that corresponds to the public key. After decrypting the secret key, the particular 3D model file can be decrypted using the secret key, and after decrypting the particular 3D model file, the particular 3D model file can be executed on the printer to print a physical 3D object.
Claim CLM-00001. 1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
accessing an electronic ledger that identifies a plurality of 3D model files that have been made available for distribution,
wherein the electronic ledger comprises a blockchain,wherein respective instances of the electronic ledger are separately maintained by each of a plurality of nodes in a computing network;
obtaining, by a computing device using information contained in the electronic ledger, a particular 3D model file among the plurality of 3D model files identified in the electronic ledger, wherein the particular 3D model file obtained by the computing device was encrypted using a secret key; requesting, by the computing device, the secret key that was used to encrypt the particular 3D model file, including invoking a computer program on the electronic ledger that corresponds to the particular 3D model file,
wherein invoking the computer program on the electronic ledger prompts encryption of the secret key using a public key associated with the computing device,wherein the computer program comprises a smart contract that is stored on the blockchain;
obtaining, by the computing device, the encrypted secret key; decrypting, using a private key associated with the computing device that corresponds to the public key, the encrypted secret key to recover the secret key; after decrypting the encrypted secret key, decrypting the particular 3D model file using the secret key; and after decrypting the particular 3D model file, executing the particular 3D model file on the computing device to print a physical 3D object.
Claim CLM-00015. 15. A three-dimensional (3D) printer comprising:
a printer assembly that includes means for depositing layered material to form a 3D model; a network interface configured to communicate with a plurality of computing nodes in a peer-to-peer network; an electronic ledger stored on the 3D printer that identifies a plurality of 3D model files that have been made available for distribution, wherein the electronic ledger comprises a blockchain, wherein the electronic ledger is replicated on at least a subset of the plurality of computing nodes; a key manager configured to stored cryptographic keys; and a controller configured to:
select a 3D model file identified in the electronic ledger;cause the network interface to obtain the selected 3D model file based on information indicated by the electronic ledger;request the secret key that was used to encrypt the selected 3D model file, including invoking a computer program on the electronic ledger that corresponds to the selected 3D model file, wherein the computer program comprises a smart contract, wherein invoking the computer program on the electronic ledger prompts encryption of the secret key using a public key associated with the 3D printer;obtain the encrypted secret key;decrypt the encrypted secret key to recover the secret key;decrypt the selected 3D model file using the recovered secret key; andcause the printer assembly to form the 3D model based on the decrypted 3D model file.
Claim CLM-00017. 17. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more physical processors of a computing device, cause performance of operations comprising:
accessing an electronic ledger that identifies a plurality of 3D model files that have been made available for distribution,
wherein the electronic ledger comprises a blockchain,wherein respective instances of the electronic ledger are separately maintained by each of a plurality of nodes in a computing network;
obtaining, by the computing device using information contained in the electronic ledger, a particular 3D model file among the plurality of 3D model files identified in the electronic ledger, wherein the particular 3D model file obtained by the computing device was encrypted using a secret key; requesting, by the computing device, the secret key that was used to encrypt the particular 3D model file, including invoking a computer program on the electronic ledger that corresponds to the particular 3D model file,
wherein invoking the computer program on the electronic ledger prompts encryption of the secret key using a public key associated with the computing device,wherein the computer program comprises a smart contract that is stored on the blockchain;
obtaining, by the computing device, the encrypted secret key; decrypting, using a private key associated with the computing device that corresponds to the public key, the encrypted secret key to recover the secret key; after decrypting the encrypted secret key, decrypting the particular 3D model file using the secret key; and after decrypting the particular 3D model file, executing the particular 3D model file on the computing device to print a physical 3D object.
