Multi-tenant SaaS Platform with Distributed Blockchain Ledger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cloud-based industrial solutions face challenges such as data accessibility across data centers, security issues, and data sharing limitations due to architectural limitations of existing cloud platform architectures.
Innovation Solution
A multi-tenant Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) manufacturing platform with a distributed blockchain ledger that records identities of industrial data sets viewed by entities, enabling secure and controlled access to data across multiple data centers, and using a service mesh to manage data routing and sharing without replication, while enforcing model-based security and contextual access rules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cloud-based computing platforms are used to enable multi-tenant industrial software serving multiple enterprises across different locations, then global scope and coordination capability are improved, but data accessibility across data centers, security issues, and data sharing concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data access rights and implements data sovereignty by creating separate data spaces for different customers/tenants. Each tenant has isolated data storage and access pathways, preventing cross-contamination while maintaining overall system connectivity. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling multi-tenancy without compromising data accessibility reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a data access layer as an intermediary between data storage and user access points. This intermediary layer manages authentication, authorization, and data routing, ensuring secure and reliable access across distributed data centers while maintaining multi-tenant isolation. The intermediary resolves the contradiction by mediating between global access needs and local data sovereignty requirements.
2Reliability
If data is stored across multiple data centers to improve accessibility and redundancy, then system reliability and disaster recovery are improved, but data sharing complexity and security management increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal data access interface that serves multiple functions: authentication, authorization, data routing, and security management. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into a single manageable layer, enabling disaster recovery across data centers without proportionally increasing data sharing complexity. The universal interface handles all data access scenarios uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of data access from physical location-based to identity and permission-based. Instead of managing complexity through physical data replication and routing across data centers, the system uses parameter changes in access control policies to manage data sharing. This transforms the complexity management approach while maintaining disaster recovery capabilities.
3Device complexity
If traditional cloud architecture is used without blockchain integration, then system simplicity is maintained, but data integrity verification and secure access control are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses blockchain as a distributed copy of the data access ledger, where each access event is recorded as an immutable copy. This copying mechanism provides data integrity verification without requiring complex centralized authentication systems. The blockchain copy maintains simplicity while enhancing reliability through distributed verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where access requests are verified against stored policies and blockchain records, providing real-time confirmation of data integrity and authorization status. This feedback loop ensures that only authorized access is permitted while maintaining system simplicity through automated verification rather than complex manual controls.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-tenant, cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) manufacturing platform offers a variety of industrial applications to end customers—including but not limited to MES, ERP, quality management, supply chain management, and customer relationship management (CRM)—and implements associated architectural features that address a number of issues relating to data sharing, security, scalability, and other concerns.