Multi-layered Image Encoding for Granular Blockchain Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current blockchain solutions lack granular access control, allowing peer nodes to access all attributes within a block once they have access to any attribute, leading to data redundancy and security issues.
Innovation Solution
A multi-layered image encoding process is used to encode data attributes within a blockchain, allowing smart contracts to control access at an attribute level within a block, enabling selective access to different layers of the image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If blockchain stores multiple attributes in a single data block with smart contract access control, then data storage efficiency is improved, but access granularity deteriorates (all attributes become accessible once any attribute is accessed)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data block into multiple image layers, where each layer contains specific data attributes. Smart contracts can control access to individual layers independently, enabling granular access control while maintaining efficient storage. The segmentation transforms a monolithic data block into separable, independently controllable units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of control by organizing data in multi-layered image structure. Instead of flat attribute storage, data is arranged in vertical layers that can be selectively accessed. This dimensional transformation enables fine-grained access control without sacrificing storage efficiency.
2Device complexity
If centralized database is used for data storage, then data management and security control are simplified, but single point of failure risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the advantages of centralized management (simplified control) and decentralized storage (improved reliability) by using blockchain technology. The multi-layered image encoding maintains manageable complexity while distributing data across multiple nodes, eliminating single point of failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite system that integrates centralized database management simplicity with blockchain's distributed reliability. The hybrid approach uses image encoding layers on blockchain to achieve both ease of management and high availability.
3Quantity of substance
If all data attributes are stored in a single blockchain block, then storage efficiency is improved, but data privacy and security are worsened (no selective access control)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data attributes into separate image layers within the blockchain block. Each layer can be independently encrypted and accessed based on specific permissions, enabling selective access control that protects sensitive data while maintaining storage efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different access control policies to different regions (layers) of the data structure. Each image layer can have its own encryption and permission settings, allowing local quality control where sensitive attributes receive enhanced protection while less sensitive data remains more accessible.
4Ease of operation
If image encoding is used to encode data attributes into multiple layers, then access control granularity is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses image encoding as a copying mechanism where data attributes are transformed into visual representations stored in image layers. This copying approach simplifies the encoding process by leveraging existing image processing technologies while achieving fine-grained access control.
Data Source
AI summary
An example operation may include one or more of retrieving a predefined image from a storage, encoding data attributes to be stored on a blockchain into one or more image layers of the predefined image to generate an encoded image, generating a data block comprising the encoded image including the data attributes which are encoded into the one or more image layers, and storing the data block via a hash-linked chain of data blocks on a distributed ledger.