Ephemeral Nodes for Distributed Ledger Transaction Speed

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Solution Overview

Problem

Blockchain technology is slow compared to centralized databases for high-volume digital transactions, and existing solutions do not provide the necessary speed and utility for secure, multipurpose distributed computing systems.

Innovation Solution

A distributed ledger system that integrates blockchain and database functionalities, allowing ephemeral user nodes to participate in transactions and enabling seamless data synchronization between blockchain instances and SQL or NoSQL databases, using WebAssembly and WebRTC for communication, and a proof-of-stake method to determine the next block writer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If blockchain technology is used for distributed transaction processing, then security and decentralization are improved, but transaction speed and processing efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction securityVSAvoidtransaction speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the distributed ledger system into multiple types of nodes (full nodes, light nodes, ephemeral nodes) with different levels of computational requirements. Full nodes maintain complete blockchain copies for security, while light and ephemeral nodes perform simplified operations, allowing the network to process transactions in parallel across different node types without requiring all nodes to perform heavy consensus operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces ephemeral nodes as intermediary entities that facilitate transactions between users and the blockchain network. These ephemeral nodes handle transaction validation and relay operations without requiring full blockchain state, acting as mediators that reduce the computational burden on permanent nodes while maintaining transaction security through cryptographic verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If traditional blockchain nodes are used, then data integrity is improved, but infrastructure complexity and resource requirements worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidinfrastructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces ephemeral nodes that can dynamically join and leave the network based on transaction needs. These nodes are created temporarily to process specific transactions and then discarded, eliminating the need for permanent infrastructure. This dynamic approach maintains data integrity through cryptographic verification while reducing long-term infrastructure complexity and resource requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs ephemeral nodes that are inexpensive, temporary computing instances used to process transactions. These nodes are created on-demand, perform their function, and then discarded. This approach replaces expensive, permanent full node infrastructure with cheap, disposable computing resources while maintaining security through the immutable blockchain ledger that all nodes reference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Stability of the object's composition

If blockchain technology is used, then transaction immutability is improved, but random access and update capabilities worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction immutabilityVSAvoiddata access flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces ephemeral nodes as intermediary layers between users and the immutable blockchain. These ephemeral nodes can query the blockchain for historical data and present it in flexible formats, while also enabling users to request transaction modifications. The ephemeral nodes handle the complexity of maintaining immutability while providing flexible access and update interfaces to users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a temporal dimension to data access by introducing ephemeral nodes that can access historical blockchain states. Instead of only accessing current immutable data, users can query past states through ephemeral nodes that reconstruct historical contexts. This additional temporal dimension enables flexible data access and potential updates without compromising the immutability of the underlying blockchain ledger.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS20230245117A1Distributed Ledger Computing Platforms and Associated Methods, Systems and Devices

Publication Date: 2023.08.03 BEAUGEARD NICHOLAS DAVID

AI summary

A distributed computing system, platform and method configured to enable the generation of a network of users of the system to participate in one more transactions and having, a network of user nodes in communication with one another, each node being associated with at least one processor and at least one computer readable medium for executing the one or more transactions with other user nodes in the network; a distributed ledger system capable of creating, maintaining and updating at least one blockchain indicative of the one or more transactions via the network of user nodes; and one or more databases accessible by the network of nodes for recording and reading data relating to the one or more transactions between the user nodes.