Blockchain Number Management System for ENUM Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ENUM systems face issues with reliability, cost, and real-time data updating due to centralized database management, and there is a risk of information leakage when all providers possess databases, especially for small-scale communication providers.
Innovation Solution
A number management system utilizing a blockchain network where multiple number management apparatuses manage and resolve telephone number portability information, with hashing to enhance confidentiality and distribute the storage of connection destination information across multiple providers, reducing reliance on a single large-scale provider and improving availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a centralized ENUM server is used for number portability management, then number resolution can be performed, but the system reliability decreases when the ENUM server breaks down
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized ENUM server functionality into distributed number management apparatuses across multiple communication providers. Each apparatus maintains a blockchain ledger, dividing the central authority's role among multiple independent nodes, thereby eliminating the single point of failure while maintaining number resolution capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a blockchain-based number portability information management system as an intermediary layer between communication providers and the ENUM server. This intermediary distributes and synchronizes number portability data across multiple apparatuses, enabling reliable number resolution even when individual nodes or the traditional ENUM server fail
2Reliability
If all communication providers possess their own number databases, then system reliability improves, but the risk of information leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates cryptographic copies of number portability information distributed across multiple communication providers' apparatuses. Each apparatus holds an identical copy of the blockchain ledger containing hashed number data, ensuring availability while maintaining security through cryptographic protection rather than physical centralization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the storage format of number information by applying cryptographic hashing functions. Instead of storing plain-text number data that could be leaked, the system stores hashed representations that preserve functionality for number resolution while eliminating the risk of direct information leakage from database access
3Ease of manufacture
If small-scale providers rely on large-scale providers for ENUM server management, then cost is reduced, but real-time data updating capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables small-scale communication providers to independently operate number management apparatuses that directly participate in the blockchain network. Each apparatus can autonomously receive, validate, and propagate number portability updates in real-time without requiring intermediary processing through large-scale providers, thus achieving both cost-effectiveness and real-time updating capability
Data Source
AI summary
A number management unit (11) of a number management system (1) generates a transaction using number portability information including a hashed telephone number and connection destination information, newly generates and approves a block using multiple transactions, and stores the block in a number database (13) as a blockchain. A number resolution unit (12) hashes a telephone number that is a query target using a hash function, searches transactions in a blockchain using the hashed telephone number as a key, and sends connection destination information corresponding to the telephone number that is the query target as a response.