Blockchain Smart Contract Access Control for Joining Institutions

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Solution Overview

Problem

In blockchain systems, newly joining institutions may access data generated by earlier institutions, leading to inconsistencies in node states, as existing solutions like authority management or block compression are ineffective in controlling access to pre-existing data.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method and device that utilize smart contracts to control data access by determining the timestamp of data upload and institution joining, where access is granted only if the joining institution's timestamp is earlier than the data upload timestamp, using hash values and blockchain states managed by blockchain nodes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If authority management or block compression is used to control access, then the blockchain system can maintain operation, but newly joined institutions can still access data generated before their joining

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata access control effectivenessVSAvoidaccess control mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent records the joining time of each institution in advance during the block writing process. When a new block is created, the system pre-stores the joining time information of institutions in that block, which is then used for subsequent access control decisions. This preliminary recording enables effective access control without complex real-time verification mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a time-based intermediary mechanism (joining time records) that mediates between the institution's request to access data and the actual data. By comparing the requester's joining time with the data generation time, the system effectively controls access without requiring complex authority management or block compression techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If all nodes synchronize all block data, then node state consistency is maintained, but newly joined institutions can access data they should not access

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenode state consistencyVSAvoiddata access control
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making each node store and verify joining time information locally during block validation. Instead of requiring complex centralized authority management, each node independently checks whether the requester's joining time is earlier than the data generation time, enabling distributed access control while maintaining node state consistency through normal synchronization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If access control is implemented based on joining time, then data integrity is protected, but additional verification steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidaccess verification time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The joining time information is recorded in advance during block creation and stored with the block data. When access verification is needed, the system only performs a simple time comparison between the stored joining time and the data generation time, rather than performing complex real-time authorization checks. This preliminary recording significantly reduces the time required for access verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3968199B1Blockchain data access control method and apparatus based on intelligent contract
Publication Date: 2023.07.19 CHINA UNIONPAY
  • EP3968199B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3968199B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3968199B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a method and a device for control of blockchain data access based on a smart contract. The method includes obtaining, by a blockchain node, an access operation request of an institution, the access operation request including a transaction identifier of a transaction to be accessed, according to the transaction identifier, determining a blockchain state corresponding to the transaction identifier, the blockchain state including a hash value of the transaction corresponding to a last time change of the blockchain state, according to the hash value of the transaction corresponding to the last time change in the blockchain state and an identifier of the institution, performing data access control on the institution, obtaining control result, and transmitting the control result to the institution.