Blockchain File Handling via Identifier Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current blockchain technologies struggle to securely store and manage large data files, such as images or videos, as they are not adequately tracked or recorded on the ledger, leading to potential loss or improper modification without recovery guarantees.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a blockchain-based file handling method that generates a file identifier, stores the data file on local blockchain peer storage, and distributes it to other peers, while tracking access and modifications on a synchronized ledger, ensuring secure decentralized storage and recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If large data files are stored locally on blockchain peers without ledger tracking, then storage capacity is improved, but security and reliability deteriorate due to lack of access tracking and recovery guarantees
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments data files into smaller chunks and distributes them across multiple blockchain peers. Each peer stores portions of the file rather than complete copies, improving storage efficiency while maintaining security through distributed ownership and ledger-tracked access control.
Solution Approach 2:
The synchronized ledger acts as an intermediary that tracks all access, modifications, and transfers of data file chunks. This intermediary layer provides audit trails and recovery guarantees without requiring centralization, resolving the contradiction between distributed storage and secure tracking.
2Reliability
If data files are distributed across multiple peers, then storage redundancy is improved, but system complexity worsens due to coordination and synchronization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The synchronized ledger serves multiple functions simultaneously: it tracks data file chunk locations, records access permissions, monitors modifications, and enables recovery operations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate coordination systems, managing complexity while maintaining redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the ledger continuously tracks the state of distributed data files and automatically triggers recovery or redistribution operations when changes are detected. This automated feedback loop simplifies coordination by reducing manual intervention requirements.
3Loss of information
If file identifiers are stored on the ledger, then tracking capability is improved, but storage overhead on the ledger worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only essential identifying information (file identifiers, chunk locations, access permissions) from complete data files and stores these metadata elements on the ledger. The actual data chunks remain off-ledger on peer nodes, significantly reducing ledger storage overhead while maintaining full tracking capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Blockchain-based file handling is provided by receiving a data file from a user device, storing the data file to local storage of the blockchain peer, generating a file identifier of the data file, providing the file identifier to the user device, storing the file identifier to a synchronized ledger of the blockchain network, where the synchronized ledger tracks access to the data file, and distributing data of the data file to one or more other blockchain peers of the blockchain network.