Smart-Contract State Timestamping via Incremental Version Numbers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current blockchain platforms lack a standardized method for ordering changes to smart-contract states, making it difficult to compare and track modifications across different blocks and keys within the same block, which is essential for complex smart-contract logic and verification.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where a committer node calculates a timestamp for each transaction by setting an incremental number for each key and value modified, and incrementing this number with each processed transaction, thereby determining a relative order of changes to the smart-contract state, allowing for uniform and global ordering of changes within the ledger.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional blockchain platforms use immutable logs for smart-contracts, then transactions can be recorded and verified, but no order is determined to the changes made by transactions included in each block
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ordering information by introducing incremental version numbers for each key-value pair modified in a transaction. This allows the order of changes to be tracked independently for each state variable, resolving the contradiction by preserving order information without compromising transaction verification reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to the data structure by incorporating version numbers and timestamps alongside the existing key-value state model. This dimensional extension enables order tracking without interfering with the immutable verification properties of the blockchain ledger
2Loss of information
If blockchain platforms provide immutable order of the ledger, then chronological ordering is achieved, but it is difficult to compare and track modifications across different blocks and keys within the same block
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assigning incremental version numbers to each key-value pair before transaction execution. This allows smart-contracts to easily compare and track modifications across blocks and keys by simply examining these pre-established version numbers, without complex comparison logic
Solution Approach 2:
The version number acts as an intermediary between the immutable ledger order and the smart-contract logic. It provides a simplified interface for tracking modifications, allowing contracts to determine relative order of changes without directly analyzing the complex immutable ledger structure
3Measurement precision
If smart-contracts require intricate logic to determine order of changes, then precise tracking is possible, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by having the blockchain infrastructure automatically manage version numbering and order tracking. Smart-contracts simply query the pre-computed version numbers to determine change order, eliminating the need for intricate ordering logic within the contracts themselves while maintaining precise tracking
Data Source
AI summary
An example operation may include one or more of calculating a timestamp for each transaction within a blockchain. The calculating of the time stamp includes setting an incremental number to each key and value modified in the transaction, and incrementing the incremental number when the transaction within the blockchain is processed. The example operation may also include determining a relative order of change made to a smart-contract state.