Blockchain Hashing for Immutable Software Testing Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current software and computing hardware testing methods face challenges in ensuring the integrity and auditability of testing data, particularly in critical systems like autonomous vehicles and financial networks, where tampering or alteration of records can occur, leading to difficulties in proving proper testing and certification.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize an immutable blockchain transaction to secure testing data by generating a hash value based on input data including the testing results, metadata, and runtime environment, ensuring data integrity and reproducibility through a distributed ledger network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If testing data is stored in traditional databases or files, then ease of operation and accessibility is improved, but data integrity and auditability deteriorate due to potential tampering and alteration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces blockchain technology as an intermediary layer between the testing system and data storage. The blockchain ledger acts as a trusted mediator that records testing data hashes in an immutable manner, while the actual testing data can be stored in traditional accessible locations. This resolves the contradiction by providing both ease of access to testing data and guaranteed integrity through the blockchain intermediary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates cryptographic copies (hashes) of testing data and stores them on the blockchain. Instead of storing the entire testing dataset on the blockchain (which would compromise accessibility), it generates immutable cryptographic representations that verify data integrity. This copying approach maintains both accessibility of original data and reliability through immutable verification copies.
2Reliability
If testing data is made immutable through blockchain, then data integrity and auditability are improved, but device complexity and implementation difficulty worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into distinct functional components: a testing module that generates data, a hashing module that creates cryptographic representations, a blockchain interaction module that handles immutability, and an accessibility layer that provides data retrieval. This segmentation allows each component to be developed and maintained independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining auditability.
Solution Approach 2:
The blockchain serves as an intermediary layer that handles the complexity of immutability and auditability, shielding the rest of the system from blockchain-specific complexities. The testing system only needs to interact with simplified blockchain APIs to achieve immutable storage, rather than implementing full blockchain consensus mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity.
3Device complexity
If traditional testing methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to prove proper testing and certification deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates immutable cryptographic copies (hashes) of testing data that serve as permanent proof of testing. These hashed copies are stored on the blockchain and can be independently verified without complicating the testing system. This copying mechanism preserves proof of testing information in an accessible and verifiable manner while maintaining relative simplicity of the testing process.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method, a device, a system and/or a manufacture of immutable protection of software and/or computing hardware testing data. In one embodiment, a method for immutably securing testing data includes initiating an operation filesystem to operate from and copying a software application and/or computer hardware design to define a workspace data. A test script is selected and executed. The method provides input data including the testing data to a hash function. The testing data may include the result data. A hash value from the hash function is generated that is uniquely determined based on the input data. A blockchain transaction is generated that includes the hash value. The hash value is submitted to a node of a blockchain network that includes a distributed network of two or more nodes maintaining a ledger database reconciled through a consensus mechanism to immutably protect the testing data.