Blockchain Transaction Dataset Deletion via Hash Verification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Blockchain networks face challenges in efficiently managing and verifying transactions, particularly when partial or complete deletion of transaction datasets is required, as existing methods struggle to maintain data integrity and trust without compromising the blockchain's integrity.
Innovation Solution
A communication system where each device in a subset stores a copy of the blockchain, allowing for partial deletion of transaction datasets and storing their hash values, enabling verification and agreement on adding new chain elements while maintaining blockchain integrity through hash values and Merkle tree structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If transaction datasets are deleted from a blockchain network, then data management flexibility and privacy are improved, but blockchain integrity and verification capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the transaction data from the blockchain by creating a deletion transaction that references the transaction hash, removes the data from data blocks, and stores only the hash value in a separate deletion data block. This separation allows data removal while preserving verification capability through the stored hash value.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a deletion transaction as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between the need to delete data and the need to maintain integrity. The deletion transaction serves as a formal record that bridges the original transaction and its removal, allowing verification without retaining the actual data.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If transaction datasets are partially deleted to maintain privacy, then data security is improved, but verification of deleted transactions becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical requirement of storing actual transaction data for verification with a cryptographic hash-based verification system. The stored hash value allows verification of the deletion transaction's integrity without requiring access to the original or partial transaction data, solving the privacy-verification contradiction.
3Reliability
If all transaction data is retained in the blockchain, then verification integrity is maintained, but storage efficiency and data management capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the actual transaction data from the blockchain structure, removing it from data blocks while preserving only the essential verification element (hash value) in deletion data blocks. This extraction maintains verification integrity by storing the cryptographic fingerprint while eliminating the need to store the full data payload.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent discards the actual transaction data from storage while recovering the ability to verify deletions through the stored hash value and deletion transaction mechanism. The hash value serves as a recoverable verification element that proves the existence and integrity of the deleted transaction without requiring the original data to be retained.
4Adaptability or versatility
If deletion transactions are added to the blockchain, then data management capability is improved, but blockchain complexity and verification process deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the blockchain structure into distinct components: original data blocks containing transaction data, and separate deletion data blocks containing deletion transactions with hash values. This segmentation organizes the complexity by creating clear boundaries and roles for different data structures, making the overall system more manageable despite the added functionality.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a communication system comprising communication devices storing a blockchain with chain elements and data blocks being associated with the chain elements. The communication system is configured to delete at least partially a selected transaction dataset of a specific data block of the data blocks, wherein the selected transaction dataset is specified by a deletion transaction dataset. The communication system is configured to store a transaction hash value of the selected transaction dataset within the communication system. The communication devices are configured to communicate with each other in order to achieve an agreement on an addition of a further chain element to the blockchain, wherein the further chain element is associated with a further data block of the communication system and the further data block comprises at least the deletion transaction dataset. Furthermore, the communication system is configured to verify the blockchain including the further chain element by means of the stored transaction hash value of the selected transaction dataset.