Utility Collector Ledger Replication for Resilient PAN Gateways
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing resource distribution systems are limited by centralized management, which restricts the use of advanced applications and are prone to failures due to lack of network-wide visibility and connectivity, leading to inefficiencies and delays in data propagation.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a distributed ledger system across utility collectors and personal area networks (PANs) to maintain a cryptographically secure record of collectors, PANs, and utility devices, enabling decentralized applications and fault-resistant operations, allowing collectors to synchronize and recover from outages autonomously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a distributed ledger is implemented in a utility network, then data integrity and transparency are improved, but system complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the distributed ledger system into multiple shards, where each shard is stored and replicated across different utility collectors. This segmentation allows the system to maintain data integrity through replication while reducing the complexity burden on any single node, as each collector only manages a portion of the overall ledger.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coordinator utility collector that acts as an intermediary between utility devices and the distributed ledger. This coordinator manages the complexity of ledger operations, transaction validation, and data synchronization, thereby improving data integrity while shielding other system components from the underlying complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple copies of the distributed ledger are stored across utility collectors, then data reliability is improved, but memory resources and storage capacity are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements selective replication where different utility collectors store different shards of the distributed ledger based on their specific roles and requirements. This local quality approach ensures data reliability through replication while optimizing memory resources by having each collector store only the necessary portions of the ledger relevant to its function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic replication factors where the number of ledger copies and their distribution across collectors can be adjusted based on system conditions, data reliability requirements, and available resources. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain reliability while adapting memory consumption to actual needs rather than using fixed, potentially excessive replication.
3Adaptability or versatility
If utility collectors instantiate copies of the distributed ledger, then system scalability is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-loading and instantiating copies of the distributed ledger on utility collectors before they are needed for operation. This allows collectors to have the ledger data readily available, reducing processing time during actual transactions while maintaining scalability through pre-configured replication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic synchronization where utility collectors update their ledger copies at scheduled intervals rather than continuously. This periodic action reduces computational overhead and processing time compared to continuous synchronization, while still maintaining system scalability through regular updates that keep all collectors aligned.
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for using a distributed ledger with a utility network. The utility network includes a set of utility collectors that are connected to a backhaul network. Each of the set of utility collectors includes a memory configured to store a copy of a distributed ledger. The utility network includes personal area networks (PANs). Each of the set of utility collectors is connected to a corresponding PAN and is configured to act as a PAN coordinator for a corresponding set of utility devices on the corresponding PAN. A utility collector requests to join a distributed ledger system. The utility collector receives an approval indicating that the set of utility collectors approve of the request to join the distributed ledger system and a current state of the distributed ledger. The utility collector instantiates a copy of a distributed ledger based on the current state, thereby joining the distributed ledger system.