Blockchain Object Data Storage with External Oracle

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Blockchain technologies face significant overhead in computing resources due to automated code execution and decentralized decision-making, making asset tracking and digital twin data storage cumbersome and costly.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method for storing data of an object in a blockchain, where a unique identifier is assigned to the object, and its dataset is stored in a data block with generated metadata, allowing for efficient tracking and retrieval without the need for smart contracts, and enabling direct links between data blocks for faster data retrieval.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If smart contracts are used for asset tracking and digital twin data storage, then automated code execution and decentralized decision-making are achieved, but significant overhead in computing resources is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomated code executionVSAvoidcomputing resource overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the automated execution logic from the blockchain smart contract layer and places it in an external oracle system. The oracle receives off-chain computation results and submits them to the blockchain as transactions, eliminating the need for resource-intensive on-chain smart contract execution while maintaining automated asset tracking functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an oracle as an intermediary between off-chain data sources and the blockchain. The oracle acts as a trusted mediator that verifies and submits external data to the blockchain, allowing complex computations to occur off-chain while only submitting essential results on-chain, thus reducing computing resource overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Extent of automation

If smart contracts are used for asset tracking, then decentralized decision-making is achieved, but computation becomes relatively slow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecentralized decision-makingVSAvoidcomputation speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the decision-making process into two parts: complex computations are performed off-chain by external systems, while only the final results and essential verification data are submitted to the blockchain for decentralized validation. This segmentation allows fast off-chain computation while maintaining decentralized oversight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs computations and data processing in advance off-chain before submitting results to the blockchain. By preparing data beforehand and only submitting essential information on-chain, the system achieves fast processing speeds while maintaining decentralized verification of the final results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If blockchain is used for asset tracking with smart contracts, then immutability and integrity are maintained, but usage becomes cumbersome and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmutability and integrityVSAvoidusage simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the blockchain to store only essential verification data and hashes of asset information, while maintaining detailed asset data in external databases. This copying approach ensures immutability and integrity of critical verification information on the blockchain while keeping the system easy to operate by allowing flexible off-chain data management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

4Productivity

If more computing resources are allocated for smart contract execution, then automated asset tracking is improved, but computational overhead and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomated asset tracking capabilityVSAvoidcomputational overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts computationally intensive asset tracking operations from the blockchain environment and performs them off-chain. Only essential verification data and results are submitted to the blockchain, maintaining automated tracking capability while dramatically reducing computational overhead and associated costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4163846A1Storing object data in a blockchain
Publication Date: 2023.04.12 SIEMENS AG
  • EP4163846A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4163846A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4163846A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for storing data of a first object in a blockchain, comprising the steps: - receiving a first dataset of the first object, - assigning a first identifier to the first object, - storing the first dataset in a first data block of the blockchain, wherein first metadata are generated for the first data block and stored therein, and wherein the first identifier is stored as part of the first metadata, - receiving (S4) a second dataset (D12) of the first object (OBJ1), wherein the second dataset (D12) differs from the first dataset (D11), and - storing (S5) the second dataset (D12) in a second data block (B2) of the blockchain, wherein second metadata (MD2) are generated for the second data block (B2) and stored therein, and wherein the first identifier (ID1 1) and a link (L_B1) to the first data block (B1) is stored as part of the second metadata (MD2). The invention realizes a blockchain that supports dynamic data storage at protocol level decreasing overhead and providing scalability.