Federated Shipping Node Blockchain Off-Chain Database
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Solution Overview
Problem
In high-volume logistics systems, existing blockchain technologies face inefficiencies in read/write operations and scalability, leading to slow system performance and inaccurate parcel tracking and dispute resolution due to incompatible infrastructure and lack of trust between shipping organizations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a federated shipping node that uses a combination of on-chain and off-chain databases, where real-time parcel tracking information is stored in off-chain databases for quick synchronization and historical updates are validated on the blockchain, ensuring cryptographic integrity and responsive operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all parcel tracking data is stored on the blockchain, then data integrity and immutability are ensured, but system performance and scalability deteriorate due to slow read/write operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data storage into two categories: critical historical data remains on the blockchain for immutability, while recent real-time tracking data is stored in off-chain databases for fast access. This segmentation allows the system to maintain data integrity for historical records while achieving high-speed read/write operations for current tracking information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces off-chain databases as intermediary storage layers between the blockchain and the parcel tracking system. These databases act as buffers that handle high-frequency read/write operations, reducing the burden on the blockchain while ensuring data consistency through periodic synchronization with on-chain records.
2Measurement precision
If a federated shipping node synchronizes real-time data across multiple nodes, then parcel tracking accuracy improves, but data synchronization time and computational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary data validation and filtering at each federated node before synchronization. Nodes pre-process incoming tracking data to ensure format compliance and logical consistency, reducing the need for extensive validation during the synchronization process and thereby minimizing synchronization time while maintaining high tracking accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses cryptographic hashing to create compact copies of critical data elements for synchronization purposes. Instead of transmitting entire data records, nodes exchange hash values that can be quickly verified against local copies, ensuring data integrity across the federated network while significantly reducing synchronization bandwidth requirements and time.
Data Source
AI summary
A system may include a federated shipping node. The federated shipping node may receive shipping information for a parcel and determine a new shipping state for the parcel based on the shipping information. The federated shipping node may append the new shipping state to a blockchain. In addition, the federated shipping node may store the new shipping state in an off-chain database. A previous shipping state for the parcel may be replaced with the new shipping state in the off-chain database. To display the real-time information related to the parcel, the federated shipping node may receive the new shipping state from the off-chain database, and send the new shipping state to a device for display. To display the historical information related to the parcel, the federated shipping node may receive previous shipping states from the blockchain, and send the previous shipping states to the device for display.