Multi-Subchain Blockchain Consensus via Logical Clock Sorting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional blockchain consensus protocols face challenges in scalability and transaction throughput as the number of network nodes increases, making them less suitable for large-scale open network environments.

Innovation Solution

A blockchain consensus method that involves determining a target sub-blockchain for a target block, obtaining valid blocks from multiple sub-blockchains, and globally ranking these blocks based on logical clocks to form a global blockchain, enhancing scalability and transaction throughput.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional consensus protocols (raft, PBFT) are used, then consensus can be achieved in small-scale networks, but communication complexity increases and transaction performance decreases as network scale expands

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsensus achievementVSAvoidtransaction performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the blockchain network into multiple sub-blockchains, each handling a portion of the transaction load independently. This segmentation allows parallel processing across sub-chains, improving overall transaction throughput while maintaining consensus reliability within each sub-chain through established protocols like Raft or PBFT.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a multi-dimensional architecture by organizing blocks into multiple sub-blockchains rather than a single linear chain. This dimensional expansion from one chain to N chains enables the system to scale horizontally, accommodating more nodes and transactions without proportionally increasing communication complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the number of network nodes increases, then network coverage and decentralization improve, but system scalability and transaction throughput deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork scaleVSAvoidtransaction throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the network into multiple sub-blockchains, the system can accommodate more nodes without requiring all nodes to communicate with each other. Each sub-chain operates semi-independently, allowing the overall network to scale to thousands of nodes while maintaining reasonable communication overhead within each segment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple sub-blockchains into a unified global blockchain through cross-chain consensus mechanisms. This combining approach allows the system to leverage the parallel processing capacity of multiple chains while presenting a unified ledger, thereby improving throughput without sacrificing the coherence and security of a single blockchain system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If multiple sub-blockchains are used to improve throughput, then transaction capacity increases, but complexity of block validation and global ordering increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction capacityVSAvoidvalidation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary validation of blocks within each sub-chain before they are considered for global ordering. Each sub-chain independently validates its blocks using standard consensus protocols, so that when blocks are aggregated at the global level, the validation work has already been completed, reducing the complexity of global validation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary global consensus layer that coordinates between multiple sub-blockchains. This intermediary mechanism handles the complex task of global ordering and cross-chain validation, allowing individual sub-chains to remain relatively simple while still achieving coordinated global consistency through the mediating layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12238230B2Blockchain consensus method, apparatus, and device, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.02.25 CHINA UNIONPAY

AI summary

A blockchain consensus method includes: on the basis of transaction data and a verifiable delay function, a node generating a target block, or synchronously acquiring a target block from other nodes; determining, from among multiple sub-blockchains, a target sub-blockchain based on information of a target block, and adding the target block to the target sub-blockchain; then, acquiring respective corresponding effective block sequences from the multiple sub-blockchains; performing global sorting on effective blocks on the basis of logic clocks respectively corresponding to acquired effective blocks, and acquiring a global blockchain. A global blockchain is acquired by using a means of multi-chain consensus, thereby improving the expandability and transaction throughput of a blockchain system in a large-scale open network environment. Acquiring a global blockchain by performing global sorting on effective blocks on the basis of logic clocks corresponding to the effective blocks can better improve the security of a multi-chain system.