Blockchain Block Tagging for Secure Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In distributed/decentralized blockchain networks, there is a need to manage security and access control for blocks, ensuring that only authorized entities can access specific resources, with the ability to control access duration and amount.
Innovation Solution
The system generates digital tags for blocks and security tokens for designated users, with logic defining access criteria, including time limits and access amounts, to manage and grant access to resources within the blockchain network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If access control mechanisms are implemented for blockchain blocks, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces tags as intermediary elements that attach to blocks and encode access control information. These tags serve as mediators between the block data and the access control logic, allowing security enforcement without directly modifying the blockchain structure. The tags contain or reference security tokens and access criteria, enabling controlled access while maintaining the integrity of the underlying blockchain system.
Solution Approach 2:
The access control system is segmented into distinct components: tags attached to blocks, security tokens held by users, and access criteria stored in the blockchain. This segmentation allows each component to be independently managed and validated, reducing the complexity burden on any single part of the system while collectively providing robust security.
2Reliability
If access control logic is applied to blocks, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Access control tags are attached to blocks at the time of block creation or validation, before any access attempts occur. The access criteria and security requirements are predetermined and embedded in the tags, eliminating the need for complex real-time access control decisions during data retrieval operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The access control information is copied into compact tag structures that can be efficiently stored with blocks and quickly evaluated during access operations. Rather than implementing complex access control logic throughout the entire blockchain system, the essential access criteria are copied into lightweight tags that can be independently validated.
3Adaptability or versatility
If tags are generated and applied to blocks, then access control capability is improved, but loss of information increases
Solution Approach 1:
Access control information is extracted from the main block data structure and placed into separate tags. This extraction allows the block content to remain intact and fully accessible to authorized users, while the tags contain only the essential access control metadata needed for authorization decisions, minimizing information overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The tag structure is designed to be universal and multi-functional, capable of encoding various types of access control criteria (time-based access, role-based access, amount-based access) in a standardized format. This universality reduces the need for multiple specialized data structures and minimizes the overall information overhead required for different access control scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A means for managing security and access to resources associated with blocks/sub-components of a distributed validating network, such as a blockchain network. Tags are created that can be applied to blocks so that a designated entity/user can locate the block though presentation of keywords associated with the tag. Additionally, a security token is generated that is assigned or otherwise provided to the designated entity/user which is configured to grant the designated entity access to resources in the block. Further, logic may be defined and applied to either the tag, the block and/or the security token that provides control over the access granted to the designated entities/users. The logic may define the period of time for which a designated entity/user is granted access to the block and/or the block's resources or the logic may define an amount of access granted to the designated entity/user.