Blockchain Trust for Mobile Network Data Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity of mobile network data management in 5G systems, with multiple entities storing and retrieving data, necessitates improved trustworthiness and integrity control, especially in network slicing scenarios where data is stored and managed by various third-party entities.
Innovation Solution
A blockchain-based trust establishment system is implemented, where network functions generate hashes of mobile network data changes and provide security credentials for validation by validator entities, creating transactions that are recorded on a blockchain to ensure data integrity and non-repudiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple third-party entities store and manage mobile network data in network slicing scenarios, then network flexibility and adaptability are improved, but data integrity and trustworthiness deteriorate due to increased complexity of data management across multiple entities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces blockchain technology as an intermediary layer between multiple third-party entities and the mobile network data. The blockchain ledger acts as a neutral mediator that records all data access and modification operations immutably, allowing multiple entities to operate flexibly while maintaining data integrity through cryptographic verification of all operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional centralized trust mechanisms (relying on a single trusted operator) with a decentralized cryptographic system. Instead of mechanical/organizational trust relationships, the system uses hash functions, digital signatures, and blockchain consensus mechanisms to verify data integrity automatically, eliminating the need for centralized control while maintaining reliability.
2Ease of operation
If traditional centralized data storage is replaced with distributed multi-entity storage, then ease of operation and network management are improved, but detection of unintended changes becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where every data access or modification operation is recorded as a transaction on the blockchain. This creates an immutable audit trail that provides continuous feedback about data state changes. Any unintended changes are automatically detected through cryptographic verification of the blockchain ledger, making detection as easy as reading the distributed ledger.
3Reliability
If blockchain technology is implemented for data integrity verification, then data trustworthiness and integrity are improved, but device complexity and computational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by implementing blockchain only for critical integrity verification functions rather than attempting to manage all network operations through blockchain. The system uses blockchain selectively for recording data access transactions and verifying integrity, while leaving routine data operations to traditional efficient storage systems, thus reducing overall complexity while maintaining trustworthiness.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided method, comprising: generating or receiving a first hash on the basis of the mobile network data change by a source network function, providing the first hash and security credentials information of the source network function for validation by a set of validator entities, and in response to detecting validation of the first hash and the security credentials information, generating a first transaction for a first blockchain, the first transaction being indicative of the mobile network data change and comprising the first hash.