Blockchain Trimming for Resource-Constrained Mesh Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Blockchain technology is resource-intensive, particularly in terms of storage and network bandwidth, which can severely impact the operation of resource-constrained networks, and is inefficient in mesh networks due to multi-hop transmissions and storage of all transaction data, leading to potential errors and storage issues.

Innovation Solution

A device selects candidate participants for a blockchain based on communication link behavior and trims the blockchain when storage is low, recalculating and sending trim messages to other devices, and addresses errors by replacing defective blocks, optimizing storage and bandwidth usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all transaction data is stored in the blockchain to ensure data accuracy and authenticity, then the reliability of the blockchain is improved, but the storage requirements and network bandwidth consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblockchain data accuracyVSAvoidstorage requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes portions of the blockchain when storage becomes constrained. The system monitors available storage and automatically trims the blockchain by removing older blocks, keeping only the necessary portion to maintain data accuracy and authenticity while freeing up storage space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The blockchain is made dynamic by allowing its size to change based on storage availability. The system continuously monitors storage conditions and adjusts the blockchain size by trimming when needed and potentially regenerating blocks when storage becomes available, transforming the static blockchain into an adaptive structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Quantity of substance

If the blockchain is trimmed to reduce storage requirements, then the storage constraints are relieved, but the blockchain may become vulnerable to undetectable modifications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidblockchain integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by monitoring storage conditions before trimming occurs. When storage becomes constrained, the system triggers blockchain regeneration that recalculates cryptographic hashes to verify integrity before finalizing the trimmed blockchain, ensuring that modifications remain detectable even after trimming.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring both storage conditions and blockchain integrity. After trimming, the system validates the remaining blockchain through cryptographic verification and can trigger regeneration if integrity issues are detected, creating a closed-loop system that maintains reliability while managing storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If blockchain validation is performed across all network nodes to ensure data authenticity, then the reliability of the network is improved, but the network bandwidth consumption and processing overhead increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata authenticityVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes unnecessary validation operations from resource-constrained nodes. Instead of requiring all nodes to validate the entire blockchain, the system allows trimmed nodes to rely on cryptographic proofs and selective validation, reducing the computational and bandwidth burden while maintaining authenticity verification through essential checks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Stability of the object's composition

If the entire blockchain is synchronized across all nodes to maintain consistency, then the reliability of data consistency is improved, but the network bandwidth consumption and synchronization time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblockchain consistencyVSAvoidsynchronization time

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the blockchain synchronization process, allowing nodes to receive and validate only the relevant portions of the blockchain rather than the entire chain. Resource-constrained nodes can synchronize with a trimmed version of the blockchain, reducing synchronization time and bandwidth consumption while maintaining consistency through selective block propagation and cryptographic verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11762844B2Secure trimming of blockchain in a resource-constrained network

Publication Date: 2023.09.19 ITRON INC

AI summary

Based at least in part on a determination of an amount of remaining storage available in a device being relative to a particular level, a device trims at least a portion of the blockchain from the device including by making storage allocated to the portion of the blockchain available. The device recalculates the blockchain without the portion of the blockchain that has been trimmed from the device. Further, the device sends a message to another device participating in the blockchain, the message including at least the hash for the recalculated blockchain devices.