Blockchain Mining Node Externally Verifiable Proof of Work via Commitment Database
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In blockchain implementations where mining nodes perform 'useful' computational work, the proof of work does not provide prima facie and independently verifiable evidence, leading to a reliance on authority servers for validation, which undermines the decentralized nature of blockchain.
Innovation Solution
Mining nodes are configured to post metadata commitment values and validation data to a commitment database, allowing for external verification of computational work without revealing private data outputs, thus providing an externally verifiable proof of work for appending block records to a blockchain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mining nodes perform useful computational work and rely on authority servers for validation, then the proof of work can be verified, but the decentralized nature of blockchain is undermined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a commitment database as an intermediary component that enables peer-to-peer verification. Instead of relying solely on authority servers, the commitment database allows mining nodes to publicly post commitment values and validation data, which other nodes can independently verify. This intermediary structure facilitates decentralized verification while maintaining proof of work reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables mining nodes to self-verify their computational work through the commitment database. Each node posts its own commitment value and validation data, allowing any node in the network to independently verify the work without requiring authority server intervention. This self-service mechanism restores decentralization while maintaining verification reliability.
2Reliability
If mining nodes reveal private data outputs for verification, then external verification is enabled, but data privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the verification information into two distinct components: commitment values and validation data. The commitment value serves as a cryptographic commitment that can be verified externally without revealing the private data output. The validation data provides additional verification information while maintaining privacy. This segmentation allows external verification without compromising data privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a cryptographic copy (commitment value) of the private data output that can be publicly verified without revealing the original private data. The commitment value is derived from the private data through a cryptographic function, allowing verification while maintaining privacy. This copying mechanism enables external verification without information loss.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for establishing an externally verifiable proof of work as immutable evidence of computational work completed by a mining node to generate a private data output, the proof of work for use in appending a block record to a blockchain comprises receiving, from a data broker server, a data package comprising signal information to be kept private by the mining node. The method further comprises analyzing the data package to convert the signal information to a corresponding private data output. In response to analyzing the data package, the method further comprises generating metadata characteristic of the analysis. The method further comprises using a cryptographic commitment scheme to generate a metadata commitment value for the data package. The method further comprises communicating the metadata commitment value and the validation data to a commitment database server operable to permit external access for use in providing an externally verifiable proof of work.