Multi-Chain Blockchain Framework for Cost-Efficient IoT Forensics
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
IoT devices generate critical data that requires secure and reliable storage to maintain integrity, especially in applications where data compromise could lead to catastrophic consequences, but traditional storage methods lack robustness and are costly, especially when using public blockchains.
Innovation Solution
A multi-chain blockchain approach is employed, where data from IoT devices is stored on less expensive blockchain platforms like EOS and Stellar, with daily summaries hashed into a Merkle tree and written to a more secure and costly second-level blockchain like Ethereum, providing a cost-effective and resilient integrity verification framework.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is stored on public blockchain platforms to ensure integrity and security, then data security and immutability are improved, but storage costs and transaction fees increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data storage into two distinct layers: a first blockchain layer for storing original data with full integrity verification capabilities, and a second blockchain layer for storing only hash values of the data. This segmentation allows the system to maintain data integrity through cryptographic verification while dramatically reducing storage costs by avoiding redundant storage of large data volumes on expensive blockchain networks.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of storing actual data copies on both blockchains, the patent uses cryptographic hash functions to create compact representations (hash values) of the original data. These hash copies are stored on the second blockchain, providing verification capability without the high cost of storing full data copies, thus reducing storage costs while maintaining integrity verification.
2Reliability
If multiple blockchain platforms are used to enhance security and detect errors, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the blockchain architecture into functionally distinct segments: a first blockchain for data storage and a second blockchain for verification. Each blockchain has a specific role, simplifying the overall system design compared to using a single complex blockchain for all purposes. The segmentation allows independent optimization of each layer for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cryptographic hash functions as intermediaries between the data storage layer and the verification layer. These hash functions transform complex data integrity verification problems into simple hash comparison operations, reducing the complexity of cross-blockchain verification while maintaining high reliability.
3Measurement precision
If hash values are stored on a second blockchain for verification purposes, then data authenticity verification is improved, but transaction verification time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent stores compact cryptographic hash representations of data on the second blockchain instead of full data copies. This copying approach maintains verification accuracy because hash functions provide deterministic and unique representations of the original data, while significantly reducing the amount of data that needs to be transmitted and verified, thus reducing verification time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the verification process by changing the parameter being verified from full data comparison to hash value comparison. This parameter change maintains authentication accuracy since hash values uniquely represent the original data, while dramatically reducing verification time and computational requirements due to the compact size of hash values.
Data Source
AI summary
A cost-effective and reliable digital forensics framework is provided by exploiting multiple blockchain networks in two levels. The selected data collected from sensors on a boat is sent to a remote company database and calculated hash of the data is saved in two blockchain platforms in the first level. Hash of each block is retrieved and inserted onto a Merkle tree on a periodic basis to be stored on another blockchain in the second level which is used to detect any error in the first level blockchains. A secure platform is created with the combination of several blockchains.