Representative Node Election Using Credential-Based Qualification

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing blockchain systems face inefficiencies and operational disruptions due to the election of unqualified or malicious node devices as representative nodes, which can compromise the system's normal operation.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a target server performing qualification audits on node devices, generating credential data for eligible candidate nodes, and conducting elections based on consensus verification to ensure only qualified nodes become representative nodes, thereby stabilizing the blockchain system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If node devices are allowed to freely become representative nodes without qualification audit, then the ease of operation and participation is improved, but the reliability and system stability deteriorate due to unqualified or malicious nodes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of node participationVSAvoidsystem operation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary qualification audit before node participation. The target server audits node devices in advance to generate credential data, ensuring only qualified nodes can participate in representative node elections. This preliminary action prevents unqualified or malicious nodes from compromising system stability while maintaining operational ease for legitimate participants.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a target server as an intermediary between node devices and the representative node election process. The target server manages qualification audits, generates credential data, and verifies node eligibility. This intermediary ensures reliable node selection without requiring direct peer-to-peer verification, thus maintaining system stability while simplifying node participation procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If frequent elections are conducted to ensure qualified representative nodes, then the reliability is improved, but the loss of time and system efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverepresentative node qualificationVSAvoidelection frequency impact
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs qualification audit as a preliminary action before elections. Nodes undergo qualification assessment in advance, and credential data is generated and stored. This preliminary qualification process eliminates the need for repeated time-consuming audits during each election cycle, ensuring reliable representative node selection while reducing overall time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where credential data generated during qualification audit is stored and referenced in subsequent elections. The system uses this feedback information to quickly verify node eligibility without re-conducting full qualification audits, thereby maintaining high reliability while minimizing time loss from frequent elections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If qualification audit is performed on all node devices, then the reliability of representative node selection is improved, but the device complexity and system overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenode qualification assuranceVSAvoidqualification audit process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a target server as an intermediary that centralizes the qualification audit process. Rather than requiring complex peer-to-peer verification, the target server performs audits and generates credential data that nodes can present for election. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall system complexity while ensuring reliable node qualification through centralized management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses credential data as a copy or representation of node qualification status. Instead of performing complex real-time verification of each node's qualifications during elections, the system uses pre-generated credential data that copies the essential qualification information. This copying approach maintains reliability while significantly reducing the computational complexity of node verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3848876B1Election method and apparatus for representative node device, computer device, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO LTD
  • EP3848876B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3848876B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3848876B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An election method for a representative node device, comprising: receiving newly-added candidate transaction data, the newly-added candidate transaction data carrying credential data provided by an auditor party, and the credential data being used for indicating that a first node device meets qualification requirements of a candidate node device; when multiple node devices in a block chain system agree to pass the newly-added candidate transaction data, storing the newly-added candidate transaction data on a target block chain of the block chain system; performing an election process for the representative node device according to the newly-added candidate transaction data stored on the target block chain and candidate node device transaction data.