Data Message Header Annotation for Distributed Network Verification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In distributed networks like the Internet, data in transit often lacks substantiation, leading to wasteful and duplicative use of processing resources as each node must verify and re-create the data message's state, which is inefficient and resource-intensive.

Innovation Solution

Data messages are maintained in a substantiated state by annotating them with services such as discovery, validation, authentication, authorization, encryption, and auditing information in the message header, allowing subsequent nodes to verify the message's integrity without re-executing these services, thus freeing up computational resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data messages are substantiated at each node in the distributed network, then data integrity and security are ensured, but processing resources are wasted due to duplicative verification and re-creation of data state

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidprocessing resource efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by substantiating data messages at the origin node before transmission, annotating them with proof of origin and state information. This allows subsequent nodes to verify data integrity through annotation validation rather than re-executing services, resolving the contradiction between ensuring reliability and maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by creating annotation copies that travel with data messages through the network. These annotations contain substantiation information that can be verified at each node without re-performing the original service executions, thus maintaining data integrity while avoiding duplicative processing resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If services are re-executed at each node to verify data messages, then data accuracy is confirmed, but computational resources are consumed unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accuracy verificationVSAvoidcomputational resource usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by including annotation information in data messages that provides verification evidence from the origin node. Subsequent nodes can validate this feedback information to confirm data accuracy without re-executing services, thereby reducing computational resource usage while maintaining verification precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The data messages carry their own substantiation information through annotations, enabling them to prove their own integrity and accuracy as they traverse the network. This self-service approach eliminates the need for other nodes to perform redundant verification computations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If data messages are annotated with service information, then verification can be performed without re-execution, but message complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveverification efficiencyVSAvoidmessage structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by separating substantiation information into distinct annotations that are attached to or travel with data messages. This segmentation allows verification information to be handled independently from the core data message processing, improving verification efficiency while managing complexity through modular organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2859691B1Method and system for maintaining data in a substantiated state
Publication Date: 2017.06.21 MEDIDATA SOLUTIONS INC
  • EP2859691B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2859691B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

A method for maintaining data in a substantiated state includes executing one or more services on the data message at a first node, annotating the message header with the services executed at the first node, transmitting the data message over a data network, and receiving the annotated data message at a second node. The annotation corresponds to the services executed at the first node, and the annotated data is extractable from the header for the execution of services at the second node. A system for maintaining data in a substantiated state is also described.