Blockchain Storage Segmentation for Consensus Node Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Distributed ledger systems (DLSs) face storage inefficiencies due to the need for all nodes to store entire copies of blockchain data, including 'cold' data that is infrequently used, leading to high storage costs without significant impact on processing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where a consensus node in a blockchain network sends current state information to a trusted node with proof of authority outside the network, which stores historic state information as a historic state tree, allowing only 'hot' data to be stored on consensus nodes, and utilizing shared storage nodes to store 'cold' data, thereby reducing storage requirements across the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If every node stores an entire copy of the blockchain, then data security and reliability are improved, but storage cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides blockchain data into two segments: hot data (recent block data and current state information) stored by consensus nodes, and cold data (historic state information) stored by shared storage nodes. This segmentation allows consensus nodes to maintain security and validation capabilities while storing only essential data, dramatically reducing storage costs without compromising reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the storage functions of consensus nodes and shared storage nodes into a collaborative system. Consensus nodes validate transactions and maintain the blockchain ledger, while shared storage nodes provide bulk historical data storage. This merging allows the network to achieve both security (through consensus nodes) and storage efficiency (through shared storage nodes)
2Reliability
If every node stores an entire copy of the blockchain, then data availability is improved, but processing efficiency deteriorates due to the large volume of data
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting data into hot and cold categories, the patent enables consensus nodes to process transactions using only hot data, avoiding the overhead of managing and searching through entire blockchain copies. This segmentation maintains data availability for validation while improving processing efficiency
3Quantity of substance
If consensus nodes store only current state information, then storage cost is reduced, but the ability to verify historic data is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces shared storage nodes as intermediaries that store cold data and provide it to consensus nodes upon request. This intermediary role allows consensus nodes to verify historic data without permanently storing it, maintaining verification capability while reducing storage costs
Solution Approach 2:
Shared storage nodes pre-store historic state information in advance, making it readily available when consensus nodes need to verify transactions. This preliminary action by shared storage nodes eliminates the need for consensus nodes to store and manage large volumes of historical data
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for communicating and sharing blockchain data. One of the methods includes sending, by a consensus node of a blockchain network, current state information associated with a current block of a blockchain to a trusted node with proof of authority outside of the blockchain network; sending a hash value to the trusted node for retrieving an account state stored in the historic state tree; receiving the account state in response to sending the hash value; and verifying that the account state is part of the blockchain based on the hash value.