Shared Blockchain Storage Segmentation for Cold Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Distributed ledger systems (DLSs) face storage inefficiencies due to the need for all nodes to store entire copies of blockchain data, including 'cold' data that is infrequently used, leading to high storage costs without significant impact on processing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where consensus nodes store block headers and current state information, while shared storage nodes store block bodies and historic state information as key-value pairs, allowing 'cold' data to be stored only on shared nodes, reducing storage burden on all nodes without compromising data reliability or processing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If every node stores an entire copy of the blockchain, then data reliability is improved, but storage cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments blockchain data into two categories: hot data (block headers and current state information) and cold data (block bodies and historic state information). Consensus nodes store only hot data, while shared storage nodes store cold data. This segmentation allows nodes to reduce storage costs while maintaining data reliability through distributed storage across different node types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces shared storage nodes as intermediaries that store cold data on behalf of the network. These specialized nodes relieve the storage burden from consensus nodes while ensuring data availability through a dedicated storage layer that maintains historical blockchain data.
2Reliability
If all nodes store entire blockchain copies, then data availability is improved, but processing efficiency decreases due to redundant storage operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by optimizing storage characteristics for different data types and node roles. Consensus nodes maintain only the data needed for rapid processing (hot data), while shared storage nodes handle archival storage (cold data). This differentiated approach improves processing efficiency by eliminating redundant storage operations on consensus nodes while preserving data availability.
3Quantity of substance
If consensus nodes store only block headers, then storage cost is reduced, but verification capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses shared storage nodes as intermediaries that store cold data and provide verification support to consensus nodes. When verification is needed, consensus nodes can query shared storage nodes for historical data, maintaining verification capability without requiring all consensus nodes to store complete blockchain copies locally.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes sending, by a consensus node of a blockchain network, current state information and one or more transactions associated with a current block of a blockchain to one or more shared storage nodes of the blockchain network, wherein the consensus node stores block header associated with every block of the blockchain and the current state information, the one or more shared storage nodes store block body and historic state information associated with every block of the blockchain, and wherein the historic state information is stored as key-value pairs (KVPs) of a historic state tree with values being account states of accounts associated with the blockchain network and keys being hash values of the corresponding account states; verifying that the one or more transactions are stored by the one or more shared storage nodes; and receiving a notification of a transaction associated with the consensus node.