Tiered Distributed Ledger for NFV Usage Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network function virtualization (NFV) systems face challenges in tracking and monitoring usage due to the lack of persistent physical identities, leading to strain on network resources and potential fraudulent modifications of usage logs, which can result in inaccurate billing and loss of confidence among network parties.
Innovation Solution
Implementing distributed ledger technology (DLT) to securely record and validate NFV events by creating chains of blocks that are resistant to modification, allowing for trustworthy tracking and monitoring of virtual server changes and resource usage across a network, with meta-chains combining multiple chains for efficient data access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If distributed ledger technology is implemented to securely record NFV events, then reliability of usage tracking is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ledger system is segmented into multiple independent chains of blocks, where each chain tracks specific NFV events or resource types. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high reliability through cryptographic linking while managing complexity by dividing the tracking function across separate chains rather than requiring a single monolithic ledger structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to the ledger system by creating meta-chains that link to multiple individual chains. This dimensional change allows the system to maintain reliability at both the chain level (through hash linking) and the meta-chain level, while managing complexity through organized hierarchical structure rather than flat interconnected complexity.
2Measurement precision
If multiple chains of blocks are created to track different NFV events, then measurement precision of resource usage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different chains of blocks are created to track specific types of NFV events (e.g., virtual server provisioning, resource allocation, usage metrics). This segmentation enables precise tracking of each event type with dedicated chains, while the meta-chain structure provides a unified view that manages the complexity of having multiple specialized chains.
Solution Approach 2:
The meta-chain structure serves multiple functions: it links to multiple individual chains, provides a consolidated view of all NFV events, enables efficient data access through hierarchical organization, and maintains the cryptographic integrity of all underlying chains. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate management systems for each chain.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If chains of blocks are used to prevent fraudulent modifications, then security against tampering is improved, but loss of time occurs during block validation
Solution Approach 1:
Each block is cryptographically linked to the previous block through hash values before transactions are finalized. This preliminary cryptographic binding ensures that any attempted modification of past blocks would immediately invalidate the entire chain, providing proactive security. The validation time is reduced because the cryptographic links are already in place, requiring only verification of the hash chain rather than re-validation of all transactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses hash values as cryptographic copies or fingerprints of previous blocks. Instead of storing or re-validating the entire previous block data, the system only needs to verify the hash value, which is a compact representation that provides the same security guarantee. This copying approach maintains strong resistance to tampering while significantly reducing validation time.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of combining chains of blocks in a network. The method comprising, creating a plurality of birth blocks of a plurality of chains of blocks by a block foundry application in a network, where each birth block is associated with a chain of blocks that records events of a network entity, creating blocks by a plurality of nodes in the network, wherein the current block and the previous block are linked, terminating the chain of blocks by the network entity, wherein the entity sends a termination request to create an end block, creating the end block, wherein the end block is the final block of the chain of blocks, and in response to the creation of the end block, sending a request by the network entity to create a block of a meta-chain of blocks, and creating the block of the meta-chain of blocks by the plurality of nodes.