Blockchain Hash Recomputation for Cryptographic Resilience

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing blockchains are vulnerable to cryptographic vulnerabilities in their hash functions, which can compromise data integrity once identified, and cannot be updated with new, more secure hash functions without a hard fork, affecting the validity of all blocks.

Innovation Solution

A method to supplement existing blockchains with a new hash function by computing and storing additional hash values using the new function, allowing for a seamless transition and validation of blocks, even if the original hash function becomes compromised.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a blockchain uses a fixed hash function for data integrity, then data verification is reliable, but the system cannot adapt to future cryptographic vulnerabilities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidhash function update capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-computing and storing hash values using multiple hash functions (original and alternative) before any vulnerability occurs. Each block contains both the original hash value and an alternative hash value computed with a different hash function, enabling immediate transition if the original function is compromised without requiring blockchain reorganization or hard forks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by introducing multiple hash function parameters (different algorithms) for computing block hash values. The system stores hash values computed with different parameters (original hash function and alternative hash function), allowing dynamic selection and switching between parameters based on security requirements without changing the fundamental blockchain structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a new hash function is implemented to replace a compromised one, then security is improved, but all existing blocks become invalid requiring a hard fork

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecryptographic securityVSAvoidblockchain continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-computing and storing hash values using multiple hash functions (original and alternative) before any vulnerability occurs. Each block contains both the original hash value and an alternative hash value computed with a different hash function, enabling immediate transition if the original function is compromised without requiring blockchain reorganization or hard forks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies copying by creating and storing duplicate hash values computed with different hash functions within the same blockchain structure. The alternative hash values are copied into the block data structure alongside original hash values, providing redundant verification capability that maintains blockchain continuity while enabling security transitions without hard forks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If additional hash values are computed and stored for each block, then security resilience is improved, but storage requirements and processing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity resilienceVSAvoidhash computation and storage overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial or excessive action by computing and storing hash values with alternative hash functions only for specific blocks that require enhanced security verification, rather than uniformly for all blocks. This selective approach provides security resilience where needed while minimizing the overall computational and storage overhead across the entire blockchain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS10389518B2Blockchain hash value recomputation

Publication Date: 2019.08.20 MICRO FOCUS LLC

AI summary

A blockchain includes blocks that each store a hash value computed using a hash function from data of the block. Another hash value is computed for each block using a different hash function, and added to the block within the blockchain. New blocks subsequently added to the blockchain have hash values computed using just the different hash function.