AT&T Awarded Patent for Bitcoin-Powered Subscriber Server

US telecom giant AT&T has been awarded a patent for a kind of home subscriber server backed up by blockchain tech.

AccessTimeIconJun 6, 2017 at 5:32 p.m. UTC
Updated Aug 18, 2021 at 6:16 p.m. UTC

Presented By Icon

Election 2024 coverage presented by

Stand with crypto

US telecom giant AT&T has been awarded a patent for a kind of home subscriber server backed by blockchain tech.

A home subscriber server performs authentication and media delivery functions for subscription holders. AT&T’s patent, as reported last year by CoinDesk, was aimed at improving the resiliency of these systems by creating a distributed network of nodes that share information.

  • Bitcoin Mining in the U.S. Will Become 'a Lot More Decentralized': Core Scientific CEO
    13:18
    Bitcoin Mining in the U.S. Will Become 'a Lot More Decentralized': Core Scientific CEO
  • Binance to Discontinue Its Nigerian Naira Services After Government Scrutiny
    05:10
    Binance to Discontinue Its Nigerian Naira Services After Government Scrutiny
  • The first video of the year 2024
    04:07
    The first video of the year 2024
  • The last regression video of the year 3.67.0
    40:07
    The last regression video of the year 3.67.0
  • AT&T first filed its patent application in April 2015. According to records from the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the patent was awarded on 30th May.

    At the time of its release, the application was notable for the fact that AT&T hadn’t revealed much of its work with the tech prior. The home subscriber server application was also noteworthy as it revealed that AT&T weighed utilizing the bitcoin blockchain itself versus an implementation of its own.

    As explained in the application:

    ".... in cases where the decentralized and distributed secure home subscriber server system utilizes the bitcoin blockchain, advantage can be taken of the plethora of nodes contributing and maintaining the security of bitcoin transactions."

    Disclosure

    Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information have been updated.

    CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk has adopted a set of principles aimed at ensuring the integrity, editorial independence and freedom from bias of its publications. CoinDesk is part of the Bullish group, which owns and invests in digital asset businesses and digital assets. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive Bullish group equity-based compensation. Bullish was incubated by technology investor Block.one.


    Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.