Blockchain Block Signing with Height-Bound Signatures
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current blockchain consensus protocols, such as Proof-of-Work, face inefficiencies and security risks due to energy wastage and the potential for double-spending attacks, particularly during temporary forks, which slow down network consensus and increase the risk of misbehavior among nodes.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a mining computing entity that signs new blocks using a secret key and block height information, with the option to reveal hidden information when duplicate block height signatures are detected, discouraging nodes from mining multiple blocks on a single fork and enhancing security by binding block height information to the signature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Proof-of-Work consensus protocol is used, then security against double-spending is improved, but energy consumption and computational waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the consensus mechanism from computational work (Proof-of-Work) to staking-based validation (Proof-of-Stake). Validators are selected based on their stake amount and randomness rather than computational power, fundamentally changing the parameter from computational intensity to economic stake, thereby eliminating energy waste while maintaining security
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical computational hashing process of Proof-of-Work with a cryptographic selection mechanism based on staking. Instead of miners repeatedly performing hash functions, validators are selected through a deterministic process based on their stake and random factors, substituting computational mechanics with cryptographic economics
2Loss of energy
If virtual mining protocols like Proof-of-Stake are used, then energy consumption is reduced, but nodes may mine multiple blocks simultaneously creating forks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent requires validators to pre-generate multiple candidate blocks with valid signatures before the voting phase. This preliminary action ensures that only pre-validated blocks can be proposed, preventing last-minute fork creation and ensuring stability while maintaining the energy efficiency of Proof-of-Stake
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a voting mechanism where the network provides feedback on proposed blocks. Validators vote on candidate blocks, and only blocks receiving sufficient support are finalized. This feedback loop prevents forks by ensuring community consensus before block finalization, while maintaining low energy consumption
3Productivity
If nodes can mine multiple blocks on different forks, then productivity increases, but consensus speed decreases and double-spending risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the block production process into distinct phases: proposal phase where validators generate candidate blocks, and voting phase where the network consensus on the selected block. This segmentation prevents simultaneous mining on multiple forks by separating block creation from block selection, maintaining productivity while ensuring consensus speed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2i~2ii
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for signing a new block of a blockchain of a distributed blockchain consensus network, 'DBCN', comprising a mining computing entity, 'MCE', and a node computing entity said method comprising the steps of i. At least one of signing and/or encrypting of predefined MCE information by said MCE, using a secret key of a public key/secret key key pair of said MCE to obtain hidden information, ΉI', ii. Signing a new block by said MCE using said secret key and block information comprising block height information to create a signature for said new block iii. In case of at least one further signing of a different block with the respective same block height information by said MCE, providing reveal information to reveal said HI to said DBCN by another node computing entity of said DBCN when said node computing entity has received two signatures comprising the same corresponding block height information.