Digital Twin Blockchain Storage Using Metadata Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current digital twin technologies face issues with data reliability, security, accessibility, and storage integrity, particularly in real-time applications, and existing blockchain technology is limited by block size and frequency, making it unsuitable for high-frequency data storage and execution of smart contracts.

Innovation Solution

Implementing blockchain technology as a storage system for digital twin data, using incremental hashing and a modified network architecture to ensure data immutability and accessibility, and integrating digital twins with smart contracts to execute actions based on real-time data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If blockchain technology is used for data storage, then data reliability and security are improved, but block size limitations reduce storage capacity and frequency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata reliabilityVSAvoidstorage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential data from digital twin systems and stores it on the blockchain, while maintaining full access to the original data through references. This selective extraction approach ensures data reliability and security on the blockchain without being constrained by block size limitations, as only critical data metadata is stored rather than all data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer between the digital twin data sources and the blockchain. This intermediary manages data filtering, selection, and representation, allowing high-frequency data to be processed and only essential information to be stored on-chain. The intermediary enables reliable blockchain storage without direct block size constraints limiting the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If real-time data is stored on blockchain, then data accessibility is improved, but block size and frequency limitations reduce real-time capability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accessibilityVSAvoiddata frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and stores only essential data metadata on the blockchain at high frequency, while maintaining full access to complete data through references stored in decentralized storage. This enables real-time data accessibility and high-frequency updates without being limited by blockchain block size constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from storing all data directly on the blockchain to a two-dimensional architecture where blockchain stores metadata and decentralized storage holds the actual data. This dimensional shift enables high-frequency real-time access without block size limitations, as the blockchain layer operates at a different level of data abstraction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If data is made immutable on blockchain, then data security is improved, but flexibility for corrections is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoiddata flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only essential data for immutable blockchain storage, while allowing flexibility in the original data sources. Corrections or updates to non-critical data can be made in the decentralized storage layer without affecting the immutable blockchain record, maintaining security while preserving adaptability where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by making different parts of the data system have different immutability characteristics. Critical data metadata is made immutable on the blockchain for security, while other data components maintain flexibility for corrections and updates in the decentralized storage layer, allowing each component to have the appropriate level of rigidity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20250310108A1Computer-implemented systems and methods for combining blockchain technology with digital twins
Publication Date: 2025.10.02 NCHAIN LICENSING AG
  • US20250310108A1 patent drawing
  • US20250310108A1 patent drawing
  • US20250310108A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A computer implemented method and system is described which uses blockchain technology as a storage system for data acquired from a digital twin. The blockchain can be used to generate an immutable transaction history of data produced by the digital twin. In the case of an error, failure, incident, or accident, parties of interest can then access and analyse an immutable set of data. The blockchain network can also execute a digital smart contract based on the data received from a digital twin. The invention may be used in conjunction with the Bitcoin blockchain or another blockchain protocol.