Redactable Blockchain Ledger via Hash Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for redacting personal information from blockchain networks are inadequate, as they either corrupt the block structure or require additional solutions like private data collections, encryption, or off-chain storage, which have performance and security issues.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves constructing a block hash from the hash of a value stored in a blockchain ledger, allowing for the redaction of information by setting associated bits to zero while maintaining the hash integrity, and using transaction envelopes with pointers to decoupled pre-images to ensure the validity of transactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If data is deleted directly from the blockchain ledger, then personal information can be redacted, but the block hash changes and chain validity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the actual data value from the blockchain storage and replaces it with a hash reference. The hash is stored in the ledger, while the actual value is stored off-chain in a private data collection. This allows the data to be removed from the visible blockchain while maintaining the hash reference for validation purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a private data collection as an intermediary storage layer between the blockchain and the actual data. The blockchain stores only hashes and references to this private collection, allowing data to be redacted from the public ledger while maintaining integrity through the hash references that point to the private storage.
2Reliability
If traditional blockchain immutability is maintained, then block validity is preserved, but information redaction becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage of data into two separate locations: the blockchain ledger stores only immutable hash references and metadata, while the actual data values are stored in a separate private data collection. This segmentation allows the blockchain to maintain its immutability while enabling data redaction through the private collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves data storage from a single dimension (on-chain) to a multi-dimensional structure where the blockchain stores references in one dimension and the actual data resides in another dimension (off-chain private collection). This dimensional separation enables independent manipulation of data in the private collection without affecting blockchain integrity.
3Loss of information
If private data collections and encryption are used for redaction, then information can be removed, but system complexity and security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses cryptographic hashes as copies of the original data stored in the blockchain. These hash copies maintain the essential integrity and reference information without storing the actual sensitive data, thereby reducing the impact of data breaches while maintaining verification capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different storage qualities to different data types: public/reference data is stored on the blockchain with full visibility, while private/sensitive data is stored in the private collection with restricted access. This local differentiation of storage quality optimizes both security and functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, a processor may store a value and a hash of the value in a ledger associated with a blockchain network. The processor may construct a block hash from the hash of the value. The processor may validate a transaction by identifying that the hash of the value matches the hash of the value from a previous transaction. The processor may maintain integrity of the block hash.In some embodiments, a processor may provide a redact transaction for a blockchain network. The processor may initialize the redact transaction. The redact transaction may be associated with a validated transaction. The processor may identify a hash value indicated within the redact transaction and associated with the validated transaction. The processor may redact a value associated with the hash value.