Miner Security Level Filtering for Blockchain Energy Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Blockchain networks face high energy consumption due to the involvement of all miners in block computation, which is wasteful for messages with lower security requirements, leading to unnecessary computational power and energy expenditure.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method to control miner participation in block computation based on security level indications associated with messages, where miners only compute blocks for messages matching their configured security levels, thereby optimizing computational power and energy use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all miners participate in block computation for every message, then security level is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity levelVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different security levels to different messages and selectively involving miners based on the specific security requirements of each message. High-security messages trigger full miner participation, while low-security messages use reduced verification, thereby optimizing energy consumption according to local security needs rather than applying uniform high-security processing to all messages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of miner participation intensity based on the security level indication of messages. By dynamically adjusting the degree of computational verification (from full proof-of-work to reduced checks) according to message classification, the system resolves the contradiction between maintaining high security and reducing energy consumption for routine low-risk transactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If all miners compute blocks for every message, then message validation reliability is improved, but computational power waste occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage validation reliabilityVSAvoidcomputational power waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial action by applying different levels of computational verification to different messages. For low-security messages, only essential validation is performed with reduced miner involvement, while high-security messages receive full computational scrutiny. This prevents excessive computational power expenditure on messages that do not require maximum security verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies local quality by tailoring the intensity of message validation to the specific security requirements of each message type. Routine transactions use streamlined verification processes, while suspicious or high-value transactions trigger comprehensive multi-miner validation, thereby eliminating wasteful uniform application of maximum validation to all messages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If miners are configured to handle multiple security levels, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveminer adaptabilityVSAvoidminer configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing miners with multi-functionality to handle multiple security levels within a single device. Rather than requiring separate specialized miners for different security requirements, the system enables each miner to adaptively perform various validation intensities based on message classification, reducing overall network complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by enabling miners to dynamically adjust their operational mode based on the security level indication of incoming messages. Miners transition between different verification intensities (from light to heavy computational effort) depending on real-time message characteristics, providing adaptability without requiring static complex configurations for each security level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12107964B2Technique for computing a block in a blockchain network
Publication Date: 2024.10.01 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • US12107964B2 patent drawing
  • US12107964B2 patent drawing
  • US12107964B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A technique for controlling participation of a miner in a computation of a block for a message to be added to a blockchain in a blockchain network is disclosed. The miner is configured to perform block computation for messages of one or more security levels available in the blockchain network. A method implementation of the technique is performed by the miner and comprises receiving (S308) the message, checking (S310) whether a security level indication associated with the message matches one of the one or more security levels configured for the miner to determine whether the miner is to participate in the computation of the block for the message, and starting (S312) to compute the block for the message if it is determined that the miner is to participate in the computation of the block for the message.