Smart Contract Timing Logic for Automated Execution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing blockchain technologies require manual invocation of smart contracts, lacking the ability to proactively start them at a timing moment, which can lead to inefficiencies and increased resource consumption.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a timing start logic in chain code that determines and executes the start moment of a target smart contract, allowing for proactive initiation without the need for a triggering transaction, and utilizing an oracle mechanism for off-chain data processing to reduce resource consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If manual invocation of smart contracts is required, then the system maintains simplicity in contract execution logic, but the system requires increased user intervention and transaction overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomated execution of smart contractsVSAvoidcomplexity of contract execution mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring timing start logic within the chain code that automatically triggers smart contract execution at predetermined moments without requiring manual user intervention. The system pre-establishes the execution schedule and conditions, allowing automated initiation of contracts based on time-based or event-based triggers defined in advance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the blockchain system to autonomously manage smart contract execution through built-in timing mechanisms and automatic triggering logic. The system serves itself by automatically monitoring conditions, determining when contracts should execute, and initiating execution without external manual transactions, thereby reducing user intervention while maintaining controlled complexity through systematic automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If smart contracts are executed on every blockchain node, then the system ensures high reliability and consistency, but the system consumes excessive computational resources and energy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconsistency of smart contract executionVSAvoidcomputational resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the smart contract execution process into distinct phases: verification phase (where nodes validate the triggering condition and contract parameters) and execution phase (where the actual contract logic runs). This segmentation allows nodes to perform lightweight verification without always executing the full contract, reducing overall computational resource consumption while maintaining execution reliability through distributed verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If timing-based automatic execution is implemented, then the system reduces manual transaction overhead, but the system requires increased complexity in timing management and coordination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveefficiency of smart contract deploymentVSAvoidcomplexity of timing management system
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a multi-functional timing management mechanism that handles multiple types of triggers (time-based, event-based, block-height-based) through a unified framework. The timing start logic serves multiple purposes: scheduling contract execution, monitoring triggering conditions, coordinating between nodes, and managing contract lifecycle events, thereby reducing the need for separate specialized systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3971809B1Method and apparatus for starting smart contract, electronic device, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2024.04.17 ALIPAY (HANGZHOU) INFORMATION TECH CO LTD
  • EP3971809B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3971809B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3971809B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

One or more implementations of the present specification provide a method and apparatus for starting a smart contract, an electronic device, and a storage medium. The method is applied in a blockchain node, and can include: running a timing start logic defined in a chain code, the timing start logic configured to determine a start moment of a target smart contract, and start the target smart contract when a current moment reaches the start moment.