Permissioned Ledger Consensus via Random Block Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing consensus protocols for permissioned ledgers are inefficient in terms of processing power and time, and often require tokens of value, making them unsuitable for private ledgers that need energy and time-efficient solutions.
Innovation Solution
A consensus method using tamper-proof computing devices with random number generators and cryptoprocessors to generate and broadcast signed selection messages, allowing nodes to select the next block for a permissioned ledger based on random values, ensuring equal chances and protection against fraud.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If proof-of-work or proof-of-stake protocols are used, then security and trustworthiness are improved, but energy consumption and time efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the trust verification function from the consensus protocol itself and places it in the pre-existing permission structure. Since nodes are already authorized to participate in the ledger, the protocol only needs to ensure fair selection among authorized nodes, not verify their trustworthiness from scratch. This removes the energy-intensive verification step while maintaining security through the existing permission model.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive, energy-intensive trust verification mechanisms with a simple random selection protocol. Instead of requiring nodes to perform computationally heavy proof-of-work or stake-based verification, the system uses lightweight random number generation and digital signatures to select the next block creator, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining fairness among authorized nodes.
2Reliability
If multiple rounds of voting are used, then consensus reliability is improved, but time efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the consensus process into two distinct phases: (1) a random selection phase where the next block creator is chosen using cryptographically secure random numbers, and (2) a validation phase where selected nodes verify transactions. This segmentation eliminates the need for multiple rounds of voting while maintaining consensus reliability, as the random selection provides immediate decision-making authority to validated nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary random selection of the next block creator before transaction validation begins. By pre-selecting the responsible node using cryptographically secure random numbers and broadcasting signed selection messages, the system establishes consensus authority in advance, eliminating the need for time-consuming multi-round voting during the validation process.
3Measurement precision
If complex calculations are required, then data validation accuracy is improved, but processing power consumption deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical calculation systems with cryptographic primitive-based selection. Instead of requiring nodes to perform computationally intensive proof-of-work calculations or complex voting algorithms, the system uses simple random number generation, digital signatures, and basic comparison operations to select and validate blocks, significantly reducing processing power requirements while maintaining validation accuracy through cryptographic security guarantees.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for reaching a consensus for appending, at a current round (j), a new block of data to a permissioned ledger distributed through a network comprising network connected devices authorized by the ledger, called nodes,said method being performed by a tamper-proof computing device configured for managing securely digital keys and comprising a random number generator and a cryptoprocessor for generating signatures with said keys, and comprising, for a set of transactions to be validated, the steps of:receiving, from at least a first node (Nk), a candidate block (Bj,Nk) computed by said first node on transactions among said set of transactions,for each received candidate block, generating a random value by the random number generator, and generating a signed selection message comprising: an identifier of the current round (j), said received candidate block (Bj,Nk) and said generated random value by said cryptoprocessor,broadcasting said signed selection messages to the nodes of said network, enabling them to select the new block (Bj) to be appended to the ledger for the current round based on said random values comprised in said signed selection messages.