Blockchain Node Grouping for Energy-Efficient IoT Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Blockchain operations are computationally expensive, particularly for low-power IoT devices, leading to energy inefficiency and increased carbon emissions, which hinders the adoption of Web3 technologies.
Innovation Solution
Grouping nodes into energy-efficient clusters with a leader that distributes computational tasks based on energy criteria, using Enhanced Privacy Identifiers (EPID) for membership management and key encryption keys (KEK) for secure communication, enabling decentralized and sustainable blockchain operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If blockchain operations are performed individually by each node, then security and decentralization are maintained, but energy consumption increases and computational load becomes unsustainable for low-power devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the blockchain network into groups of nodes, each with a designated group leader. Individual nodes segment their computational responsibilities by only performing local verification of group leader signatures rather than full blockchain validation, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining security through hierarchical verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The group leader acts as an intermediary between individual nodes and the blockchain network. Nodes delegate computational tasks to group leaders who perform bulk verification operations, reducing the energy burden on individual low-power devices while maintaining overall network security through the intermediary's centralized verification within the group.
2Productivity
If computational tasks are distributed across all nodes, then decentralization is achieved, but computational efficiency decreases and transaction processing becomes slower
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the verification process into two layers: individual nodes perform lightweight local verification of group leader signatures, while group leaders perform heavier computational tasks for bulk transaction validation. This segmentation improves transaction processing speed by avoiding redundant full verification by every node, while maintaining decentralization through distributed group leadership and local verification capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
Individual nodes perform only partial verification (checking group leader signatures) rather than complete blockchain validation, which is excessive for low-power devices. This partial action approach maintains adequate security for individual nodes while improving overall transaction processing speed by concentrating full verification efforts at the group leader level.
3Adaptability or versatility
If low-power IoT devices participate in blockchain operations, then Web3 adoption increases, but energy inefficiency and carbon emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables low-power IoT devices to participate in blockchain operations by segmenting their responsibilities to only perform lightweight local verification of group leader signatures. This segmentation allows Web3 adoption by IoT devices while minimizing energy consumption and carbon emissions, as devices do not perform energy-intensive full blockchain validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service for low-power devices by automatically assigning them to groups with appropriate group leaders who handle heavy computational tasks. IoT devices simply need to verify group leader signatures locally, with the system automatically managing group assignments and leader selection, enabling Web3 adoption without requiring devices to perform energy-intensive operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
Various examples relate to apparatuses, devices, methods and computer programs for a group leader and a group member of a group of nodes of a blockchain network. The apparatus for the group leader comprises interface circuitry, machine-readable instructions, and processor circuitry to execute the machine-readable instructions to manage a membership of nodes of the blockchain network in the group of nodes, perform or delegate blockchain-related computational activity on behalf of the group of nodes according to an energy criterion.