Blockchain Primary Node View Switching Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing view switching mechanism in blockchain networks requires an additional consensus process, increasing system computation and processing time, leading to low processing efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The primary node actively monitors view switching conditions and selects a successor node to perform view switching without initiating an additional consensus, thereby preventing the need for an additional consensus process and reducing computation and time consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a backup node initiates view switching in the existing mechanism, then the view switching can be performed, but an additional consensus process is required which increases system computation amount and processing time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveview switching capabilityVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional view switching initiation mechanism. Instead of allowing backup nodes to initiate view switching (which requires additional consensus), the primary node is empowered to initiate view switching unilaterally. This inversion eliminates the need for backup nodes to start consensus processes, thereby reducing computational overhead and processing time while maintaining the reliability of view switching capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If an additional consensus process is performed for view switching, then the view switching request can be confirmed, but the system computation amount and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconsensus confirmationVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The primary node performs preliminary actions by proactively monitoring view switching conditions and initiating view switching before backup nodes would need to request it. The primary node selects successor nodes in advance and can unilaterally trigger view switching when conditions are met, eliminating the need for time-consuming additional consensus processes that would otherwise be required to confirm backup node-initiated view switching requests.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the primary node actively monitors and initiates view switching, then the additional consensus process can be eliminated, but the primary node needs to have monitoring and selection capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidmonitoring and selection mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The primary node performs self-service by autonomously monitoring view switching conditions, selecting successor nodes, and initiating view switching without requiring external requests or additional consensus from backup nodes. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex monitoring and selection mechanisms while improving processing efficiency, as the primary node already has the authority and information needed to make these decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3525102B1Consensus method and device
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 ADVANCED NEW TECHNOLOGIES CO LTD
  • EP3525102B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3525102B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP3525102B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Implementations of the present application disclose a consensus method and apparatus, where the method includes the following: monitoring, by a blockchain primary node, triggering of a view switching condition; selecting, by the blockchain primary node, a successor node when the triggering of the view switching condition is monitored; and switching, by the blockchain primary node based on the successor node, a current view to a next view that uses the successor node as a succeeding blockchain primary node, so that the succeeding blockchain primary node initiates a consensus in the next view. According to the implementations of the present application, any view switching is initiated by a blockchain primary node, and no additional consensus process is needed. As such, an additional computation amount and processing time consumption in a blockchain network can be reduced.