Blockchain Contract Sub-State Registration for Workflow Notification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Workflow management is inefficient due to unreliable and resource-intensive notification processes among multiple parties, especially as the complexity and number of parties increase, leading to errors and wasted computing power in workflows like online purchase-delivery processes.
Innovation Solution
A blockchain-based system for registering and managing subscribable sub-states, where a blockchain contract is generated and deployed to update current sub-states, allowing for automated notifications and efficient workflow management by configuring cyclic trigger flows and associating subscribers with specific sub-states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional notification methods are used among multiple parties in workflow, then parties can be informed of stage completion, but reliability decreases and errors increase as the number of parties and workflow complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a blockchain-based intermediary system that acts as a neutral mediator between workflow parties. The blockchain contract automatically records and verifies state transitions, providing a trusted third-party mechanism that eliminates the need for direct party-to-party notification while maintaining reliability even as workflow complexity increases.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automated feedback mechanisms where the blockchain contract continuously monitors workflow state changes and automatically notifies subscribed parties when specific sub-states are reached. This feedback loop ensures reliable notification delivery without manual intervention, scaling effectively with workflow complexity.
2Productivity
If traditional notification delegation among parties is used, then parties can manage their own notifications, but significant resources are required and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The blockchain contract performs self-service by automatically detecting state transitions and triggering notifications without requiring external intervention from workflow parties. The contract monitors its own state changes and autonomously executes notification logic, eliminating the need for parties to manually manage notifications and reducing computational overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring subscription rules and notification logic in the blockchain contract before workflow execution. Parties subscribe to specific sub-states in advance, and the contract is pre-programmed to automatically notify them when those states are reached, eliminating the need for real-time decision-making and resource-intensive manual notification management.
3Reliability
If blockchain stores all workflow data, then data integrity is maintained, but computational burden increases for filtering relevant information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the workflow state into hierarchical sub-states, allowing parties to subscribe only to specific sub-states relevant to their needs. This segmentation enables selective notification while maintaining the integrity of the complete workflow state in the blockchain, reducing the computational burden of filtering information without compromising data integrity.
4Loss of information
If parties receive all workflow updates, then complete information is available, but irrelevant information increases computational overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by allowing different parties to receive different subsets of workflow updates based on their specific needs and subscriptions. Each party receives only the information relevant to their role and responsibilities, maintaining information completeness for each individual while reducing overall computational overhead through selective information delivery.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for registering subscribable sub-states in blockchain are provided. One of the methods includes: obtaining a request for registering one or more sub-states of a state, wherein a registered workflow comprises the state; generating a blockchain contract comprising the one or more sub-states; and deploying the blockchain contract in a blockchain. The deployed blockchain contract is executable to update a current sub-state of the state corresponding to the workflow among the one or more sub-states.