Blockchain Pointer Database for Biometric Data Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Blockchain databases face challenges in terms of large size, bandwidth requirements, and lack of searchability, making them unsuitable for mobile devices and limiting their use in secure storage of biometric information due to storage and computational constraints.
Innovation Solution
Combining blockchain databases with a searchable text-based domain name system (DNS) for secure storage and retrieval of biometric data, where pointers to blockchain blocks are stored in DNS, allowing for efficient searching and updating of records without exposing the entire blockchain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If blockchain databases are used for secure storage of biometric information, then security and immutability are improved, but storage size and bandwidth requirements increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments blockchain data into two parts: immutable cryptographic hashes stored on the blockchain for security, and actual biometric data stored in encrypted form in a separate searchable database. This segmentation allows the blockchain to maintain its security benefits while avoiding the burden of storing large volumes of actual data, thus resolving the contradiction between security and storage size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary searchable database that acts as a bridge between the blockchain and users. This database stores encrypted biometric data and metadata with search capabilities, while the blockchain stores only cryptographic references. The intermediary allows efficient data access and searching without requiring users to download or store the entire blockchain, resolving the contradiction between security and storage requirements.
2Reliability
If entire blockchain is downloaded and stored for data access, then data security is maintained, but bandwidth and storage space requirements prevent use on mobile devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential cryptographic elements (hashes, block identifiers, merkle roots) from the blockchain and stores them in the searchable database alongside encrypted data. Users only need to download and store these extracted references rather than the entire blockchain, enabling mobile device compatibility while maintaining security through cryptographic verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates simplified copies of blockchain data in the form of cryptographic hashes and block references stored in the searchable database. These copies contain sufficient information for verification and searching without requiring the full blockchain data, making the system accessible to mobile devices with limited storage and bandwidth while preserving the security guarantees of the original blockchain.
3Stability of the object's composition
If blockchain database structure is used, then immutability is achieved, but searchability of information is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments data into immutable blockchain references and searchable encrypted metadata. The blockchain maintains immutability by storing cryptographic hashes, while the searchable database enables efficient querying through encrypted metadata and descriptors. This segmentation allows both immutability and searchability to coexist by assigning each function to the appropriate storage layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The searchable database acts as an intermediary layer that provides search capabilities without compromising blockchain immutability. It stores encrypted biometric data with associated metadata, block identifiers, and descriptors that enable efficient searching. The intermediary translates search queries into blockchain verification operations, maintaining immutability while enabling searchability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for information storage using blockchain and pointer databases, comprising a computer with a blockchain manager and datastore manager, and blockchain data input, which connects over a network to a distributed blockchain ledger containing information such as personally-identifying data and a datastore system containing searchable information such as a DNS system on the persons entered into the blockchain, the datastore system also containing reference numbers for each searchable block in the blockchain, such that verification or identification can both be accomplished swiftly and securely of data in the blockchain such as for data verification to verify or identify persons submitting data to such a system.