Proof Onion Cryptographic Evidence for Smart Contract Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current blockchain systems lack efficient mechanisms for verifying the validity of smart contract transactions without disclosing private details, particularly in scenarios where secure execution environments and cryptographic proofs are involved.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of proof onions, which are layers of cryptographic evidence including digital signatures and zero-knowledge proofs, stored separately from blockchain transactions, with a proofing service handling validation requests to maintain privacy and security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If blockchain systems store all transaction details and cryptographic proofs on-chain, then transaction validity can be verified, but privacy and security are compromised due to exposure of sensitive information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the verification process by separating proof validation from transaction details. Proof onions are stored and validated independently from the main blockchain transaction records, allowing verification of transaction validity without exposing sensitive transaction information. The proof structure is divided into multiple layers that can be validated incrementally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces proof onions as an intermediary structure between the blockchain transaction and the verification process. These proof onions act as a mediator that contains cryptographic evidence (digital signatures, zero-knowledge proofs) necessary for validation while shielding the actual transaction details from exposure during verification.
2Reliability
If cryptographic proofs and digital signatures are included in every blockchain transaction, then transaction authenticity is ensured, but blockchain data size and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts cryptographic proofs from the main blockchain transaction structure and places them in separate proof onion structures. This extraction reduces the complexity of the primary blockchain data structure while maintaining transaction authenticity through the separated proof validation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves cryptographic proofs to a different dimensional space by creating a separate proof validation layer. Instead of embedding proofs within the linear blockchain transaction structure, proofs are organized in a hierarchical onion structure that can be validated independently, effectively adding a new dimension to the verification process.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If zero-knowledge proofs and enclave attestations are used to enhance privacy, then sensitive information is protected, but verification computational overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-computing and embedding cryptographic proofs (including zero-knowledge proofs and enclave attestations) into the proof onion structure at the time of transaction creation. This preliminary preparation allows for more efficient verification later, as the computational heavy lifting has already been done and the proofs are ready for validation without requiring intensive real-time computation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Proof onions for transactions for smart contracts are stored. Details of the transactions are stored on blockchains separate from the proof onions. The proof onions are evidence structures for the steps taken to create any transaction for the smart contract. The proof onions include a plurality of signatures or other cryptographic proofs. A proof request that is associated with at least a first transaction of the transactions is received. A first proof onion of the proof onions that corresponds to the first transaction is retrieved. A plurality of public keys associated with the first proof onion is obtained. The plurality of public keys is used to validate the first proof onion. In response to the validation of the first proof onion, the proof request is responded to with at least an indication of the validity of the first transaction.