Leaderless Distributed Database Using HashDAG Consensus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing distributed database systems face challenges in achieving consensus without a leader, with methods like Paxos being reliant on a trusted central server and blockchain systems being inefficient for large-scale applications.
Innovation Solution
A distributed database system that uses a hashDAG (Directed Acyclic Graph) to establish consensus among compute devices without a leader, where events are linked through cryptographic hashes, allowing each device to calculate an order based on a protocol and store it within the database.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a leader-based consensus method like Paxos is used, then consensus can be achieved, but the system requires a trusted central server which reduces security and creates a single point of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the leader role from the consensus mechanism by implementing a leaderless distributed database where all compute devices participate equally in event validation and ordering through a hashDAG structure, eliminating the single point of failure while maintaining consensus reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the consensus function across multiple compute devices rather than concentrating it in a single leader, with each device independently validating events and contributing to the distributed consensus through cryptographic hashing and graph-based event linking
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a blockchain data structure is used for leaderless consensus, then no single point of failure exists, but the system is limited to a small number of transactions per second which reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic event linking in the hashDAG where compute devices can efficiently process and link events based on current system state, allowing the system to adaptively handle varying transaction loads without the rigid block structure limitations of traditional blockchain
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from the linear, sequential block structure of traditional blockchain to a multi-dimensional hashDAG structure where events can be linked in parallel through multiple parent references, enabling concurrent transaction processing and significantly increasing throughput while maintaining decentralization
3Reliability
If extensive data exchange occurs between compute devices to achieve consensus, then agreement can be reached, but the convergence speed decreases and system efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Compute devices perform preliminary local validation of events against the hashDAG structure before broadcasting, filtering out invalid events early and reducing the amount of data that needs to be exchanged and revalidated across the network, thereby accelerating consensus convergence
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses cryptographic hashes of events as compact representations that can be rapidly exchanged and verified between compute devices, replacing the need to transmit and process entire event datasets, thus significantly reducing communication overhead and improving convergence speed
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, an apparatus includes an instance of a distributed database at a first compute device configured to be included within a set of compute devices that implement the distributed database. The apparatus also includes a processor configured to define a first event linked to a first set of events. The processor is configured to receive, from a second compute device from the set of compute devices, a signal representing a second event (1) defined by the second compute device and (2) linked to a second set of events. The processor is configured to identify an order associated with a third set of events based at least one a result of a protocol. The processor is configured to store in the instance of the distributed database the order associated with the third set of events.