KR20230156590A - Blockchain system with external storage table and data operation method - Google Patents

Abstract

The blockchain system for smart contracts of the present invention includes nodes constituting a blockchain network that shares a distributed ledger for smart contracts among participants; And an external storage that stores data for the smart contract along with the distributed ledger,
Each node may be equipped with an external storage table that stores organized information about data stored in the external storage for smart contracts.

Description

Blockchain system and data operation method with an external storage table {BLOCKCHAIN SYSTEM WITH EXTERNAL STORAGE TABLE AND DATA OPERATION METHOD}

The present invention is inspired by the page table of the paging technique used in main memory to facilitate the management of data stored in the external storage of the blockchain, save storage space in the external storage, and prevent additional data transfer to enable fast smart contract execution. It is about the blockchain system and its data operation method.

Smart contract is a distributed ledger, a technology that automatically concludes a transaction between parties when certain transaction conditions are met on the blockchain. It is a technology that prevents forgery and alteration of stored data even without a third party trust agency by maintaining the same ledger for blockchain participants. To maintain the same data, participants maintain data consistency using a consensus algorithm. When users deliver their data and signals to participants in the blockchain, the participants execute a smart contract that is automatically executed when conditions are met. The execution results are verified by all other participants to ensure that they are derived correctly, and the results are stored in the blockchain.

Data stored in the blockchain is processed with a hash function and included when hashing the next data, making it impossible to delete previous data. Therefore, in the case of data with a set retention period, it cannot be deleted if stored on the blockchain, which may lead to cases of violation of the law.

Blockchain is maintained as a network between participants, and in order to prevent network load and a decrease in blockchain performance, large amounts of data are hashed and stored in the blockchain when the data volume is large.

To solve the two problems mentioned above, blockchain sets up a separate external storage to store documents or personal information with a fixed retention period, or large pictures and PDF files.

If there is a document or file required by an independent smart contract that does not interfere with the processing process, different smart contracts will request the same document when they operate and store it in external storage. The types of data stored in external storage are generally documents or files that are too large to be stored on the blockchain, or data that needs to be deleted, such as personal information with a fixed storage period.

When duplicate data is stored in storage, storage resources are consumed quickly, which increases blockchain maintenance costs. Additionally, if a document or file is required as a condition of a smart contract, the smart contract waits while preparing and registering the data even though the data is already in external storage, resulting in unnecessary time being wasted.

For example, the above-mentioned problem of duplicate data storage can be caused by uploading the same file (data) to external storage by different parties or at different times when processing a single smart contract on a single blockchain network. there is.

However, it is more common to run multiple smart contracts on one blockchain network, and when multiple smart contracts are run on one blockchain network, the inefficiency problem of duplicate data storage becomes even worse.

Republic of Korea Publication No. 10-2020-0126794

The present invention seeks to provide a blockchain system and a data operation method that prevents duplicate data storage in smart contracts, enables fast processing without additional data requests, and has an external storage table that supports efficient storage and operation of large amounts of data. .

A blockchain system for smart contracts according to one aspect of the present invention includes nodes constituting a blockchain network that shares a distributed ledger for smart contracts between participants; And an external storage that stores data for the smart contract along with the distributed ledger,

Each node may be equipped with an external storage table that stores organized information about data stored in the external storage for smart contracts.

Here, each node includes a verification management module that verifies data in the external storage; And it may further include a storage space access control policy module responsible for security policy for the external storage.

Here, the blockchain network processes a plurality of smart contracts, and the storage space access control policy module can designate a smart contract that can access each data that can be stored in the external storage from among the plurality of smart contracts. there is.

Here, the security policy may be designated by an administrator who operates the blockchain, or may be determined through voting by participants in the blockchain network.

Here, it may further include a verification server that verifies data requested by the verification management module.

Here, the external storage table can confirm the existence of each data item in the external storage table for the data required for the smart contract, and confirm whether the corresponding data in the external storage exists for each data item. there is.

Here, when the node executes a smart contract to add a block to the distributed ledger, it can secure the necessary data from the external storage by checking the external storage table.

Here, when the node receives new data from the outside that is not listed in the external storage table, it uploads the unlisted data to the external storage, updates the external storage table, and updates other data in the blockchain network. External storage table update information can be transmitted to nodes.

Here, the other nodes can access the external storage according to the external storage table update information and verify the uploaded data based on a predetermined consensus algorithm.

Here, if an issuing agency exists for the data to be stored in the external storage, the verification management module can receive the data from the issuing agency and upload it to the external storage.

A data operation method in a blockchain system according to another aspect of the present invention includes nodes constituting a blockchain network that share a distributed ledger for a smart contract between participants, and data for the smart contract along with the distributed ledger. A data operation method in a blockchain system that includes an external storage for storing data and an external storage table for storing organized information about data stored in the external storage for smart contracts,

For data required to proceed with a smart contract at a client request, checking the corresponding data item in the external storage table; confirming valid access to the data item in the external storage table; If access is valid, accessing the location of the external storage where the corresponding data is stored according to information described in the external storage table; and securing the corresponding data at the location.

Here, before confirming the corresponding data item in the external storage table, the client requests a smart contract operation from a node belonging to the blockchain network; And it may further include the step of the blockchain network operating a smart contract through the consensus algorithm of the blockchain.

Here, if the access is not valid as a result of checking whether the access is valid, requesting data from the client; Receiving the data from the client, executing a smart contract, and storing data that has a large capacity or needs to be deleted in external storage; And it may further include the step of writing data information in the external storage table after saving.

Here, when it is confirmed that data is not in the external storage in the step of accessing the location of the external storage, requesting data from the client; Receiving the data from the client, executing a smart contract, and storing data that has a large capacity or needs to be deleted in external storage; And it may further include the step of writing data information in the external storage table after saving.

Here, for storing the data in the external storage, propagating the external storage table update to other nodes in the blockchain network; and accessing the external storage from the other nodes to verify whether the corresponding data has been forged or altered.

By implementing the data operation method and/or blockchain system in a blockchain system with an external storage table according to the spirit of the present invention of the above-described configuration, duplicate data storage in smart contracts is prevented and fast processing is achieved without additional data requests. It is possible and has the advantage of being able to efficiently operate large amounts of data required for contracts.

Specifically, the method of preventing wasted storage space and saving smart contract waiting time using an external storage table according to the present invention allows an independent smart contract to quickly process data stored by an activated smart contract without requesting additional data and eliminates duplicate data. Saving can be prevented.

The data operation method and/or blockchain system in a blockchain system equipped with an external storage table of the present invention can quickly check stored data without directly accessing the external storage, and can increase security by restricting access. It has the advantage of improving reliability by checking for forgery and alteration of documents to be stored in the chain.

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a node constituting a blockchain system for smart contracts according to the spirit of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a blockchain system for a smart contract constructed using the node shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing another example of a blockchain system for a smart contract constructed using the node shown in FIG. 1.
Figures 4a and 4b are procedural conceptual diagrams comparing the method of the prior art and the method of preventing storage space waste and saving smart contract waiting time using an external storage table of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a data operation method in a blockchain system having an external storage table according to the spirit of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a detailed flowchart showing an example of the detailed processes of the flowchart of FIG. 5.

In describing the present invention, terms such as first and second may be used to describe various components, but the components may not be limited by the terms. Terms are intended only to distinguish one component from another. For example, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, the second component may be referred to as a first component without departing from the scope of the present invention.

When a component is mentioned as being connected or connected to another component, it can be understood that it may be directly connected to or connected to the other component, but other components may exist in between. .

The terms used herein are only used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. Singular expressions may include plural expressions, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In this specification, terms such as include or have are intended to designate the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, including one or more other features or numbers, It can be understood that the existence or addition possibility of steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof is not excluded in advance.

Additionally, the shapes and sizes of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clearer explanation.

The idea of the present invention is to introduce a specific method to prevent waste of external storage storage space by introducing an external storage table and to reduce the waiting time required for securing and processing necessary files when executing a smart contract.

The external storage table proposed by the present invention stores organized information such as a summary table or list as a storage status report of data stored in an external storage that stores data that has a large data capacity or needs to be deleted in a smart contract. Depending on the perspective, it can be seen as having a similar function to a kind of template and/or storage status reporting data for the stored data structure formed in external storage.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a node constituting a blockchain system for a smart contract according to the spirit of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a blockchain system for a smart contract constructed using the node shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the system configuration for preventing storage space waste and saving smart contract waiting time using the external storage table 110 according to the present invention includes nodes 100, 100-1 to N, and blockchain. Includes a network 200 and external storage 300.

That is, the blockchain system for smart contracts shown includes nodes (100, 100-1 to N) that constitute a blockchain network that shares the distributed ledger for smart contracts among participants; and an external storage 300 that stores data for the smart contract along with the distributed ledger.

According to the spirit of the present invention, each node 100 is provided with an external storage table 110 that stores organized information about data stored in the external storage 300 for smart contracts.

In addition, the node 100, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a verification management module 140 that verifies data in the external storage 300; And it may further include a storage space access control policy module 130 that is responsible for the security policy for the external storage 300.

As shown in FIG. 1, each node (100, 100-1 to N) of the blockchain network is a component for operating a general blockchain network, and records the content agreed upon in the blockchain network in an unforgeable manner. distributed ledger (240); A blockchain operation unit 210 that manages the distributed ledger according to agreement with other nodes of the blockchain network; A smart contract operation unit (220) that performs a smart contract using a blockchain network; A blockchain network communication module 260 that performs data communication with other nodes of the blockchain network; And it may further include a client interface 270 that performs data communication for processing requests from clients of the blockchain network or smart contract.

The security policy that the storage space access control policy module 130 complies with may be designated by an administrator who operates the blockchain, or may be determined through voting by participants in the blockchain network.

The smart contract operating unit 220 is generally an internal module of the blockchain operating unit 210, but since the idea of the present invention is more useful for smart contracts, it is named separately.

Depending on the implementation, the client may be a device such as a terminal or server used by users of the blockchain network, and each node (100, 100-1 ~ N) may be a client designated in charge, or a client for all nodes. It could be.

Each node (100, 100-1 to N) is a component according to the spirit of the present invention, and has an internal external storage table 110, a distributed ledger 120, a storage space access control policy module 130, etc. Includes.

The distributed ledger 240, blockchain operation unit 210, smart contract operation unit 220, blockchain network communication module 260, and client interface 270 can apply conventional and known blockchain technology, Detailed description is omitted.

All or part of the nodes 100, 100-1 to N shown in FIG. 2 may follow the structure shown in FIG. 1, and the nodes 100, 100-1 to N shown above constitute the structure. Blockchain networks can run multiple smart contracts.

When proceeding with multiple smart contracts, the storage space access control policy module 130 can designate a smart contract that can be accessed for each data item that can be stored in the external storage 300 from among the multiple smart contracts. there is.

The role of the external storage table 110 according to the spirit of the present invention is to prevent waste of storage space in the external storage 300 and to quickly process smart contracts. The data required by different smart contracts is the same, but since the presence of data in the external storage 300 is not known, resources are wasted due to redundant storage. This information is identified in advance in the external storage table 110 to reduce resource waste. Similarly, if necessary data is available, the smart contract can refer to the external storage 300 without requesting the necessary data, allowing quick processing.

For example, the verification management module 140 is implemented as a software module and can verify forgery and alteration of data stored in the external storage table 110 by communicating with the outside.

To confirm forgery, you can download verification rules from an external organization and inspect them yourself, or follow a verification procedure operated by an external organization. Alternatively, you can receive data directly from an external organization and prove that it is the original by giving no opportunity for forgery or alteration of the document. In this case, if an issuing agency exists for the data to be stored in the external storage 300, the verification management module 140 can receive the data from the issuing agency and upload it to the external storage.

Depending on the implementation, the external storage table 110 verifies the existence of each data item in the external storage table for data required for the smart contract, and determines whether the corresponding data in the external storage is present for each data item. It can support a two-step verification process to confirm its existence.

Here, the data item designates the type of data that is currently recorded or will be recorded in the future. The external storage table 110 consists of a plurality of data items, and data is stored in the external storage 300 for each data item. It may exist or may not yet exist (i.e., not specified).

For example, the external storage table 110 includes, for a specific data item, at least one of the data item name, 'contracts (smart contracts) that are allowed to access, nodes that are allowed to access, and clients that are allowed to access.' It may be composed of a table consisting of records containing data storage location information. Depending on the purpose pursued, the records may additionally include information such as stored data size, format, document issuance date, upload date/time, issuing agency, and verification (certification) agency. At this time, the data storage location information and the additionally stored information can be implemented so that they can be read only for contracts (or nodes or clients) to which the access is permitted.

When executing a smart contract according to the spirit of the present invention, when adding a block to the distributed ledger 240, the node 100 checks the external storage table 110 and secures the necessary data from external storage. can do.

In addition, when the node 100 receives new data from the outside that is not described in the external storage table 110, it uploads the unwritten data to the external storage 300 and stores the data in the external storage table 110. ), and external storage table update information can be transmitted to other nodes (100-1 to N) belonging to the blockchain network.

Through the above-described update process, the node 100 and other nodes 100-1 to N belonging to the blockchain network each have an external storage table 110 synchronized with the same content.

In this case, depending on the implementation, the other nodes (100-1 to N) access the external storage 300 according to the external storage table update information and verify the uploaded data based on a predetermined consensus algorithm. You can.

The blockchain system for smart contracts with an external storage table according to the idea of the present invention, which has been reviewed, applies a verification management module as verification management software that verifies the proposed technology from an external organization, and includes a list of files frequently used in smart contracts and You can manage the list of smart contracts that can access data by organizing categories.

The blockchain system for smart contracts shown in FIG. 2 further includes a verification server 400 that verifies data requested by the verification management module 140.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing another example of a blockchain system for a smart contract constructed using the node shown in FIG. 1.

In the case of the system of FIG. 3, it does not have a verification server operating as a separate independent server as shown in FIG. 2, but is in the form of verification management SW (140-0 to N) as shown, and each node (100, 100-1 to N) ) and the participants communicate with the outside to verify the data. This conforms to the philosophy of blockchain by verifying data with participants as the subject.

Figures 4a and 4b are procedural conceptual diagrams comparing the method of the prior art and the method of preventing storage space waste and saving smart contract waiting time using an external storage table of the present invention.

In the case of the prior art shown in FIG. 4A, each chaincode that requires large-capacity file processing accesses the external storage 300 and uploads the corresponding file, so even if the files needed at different times are the same, the files are not stored in the external storage 300. Duplicate uploads cannot be avoided.

On the other hand, in the case according to the idea of the present invention shown in FIG. 4B, when executing the subsequent chaincode 5 that requires processing a large file, the external storage table 110 is first referred to to determine whether the same file has already been uploaded to the external storage 300. You can check it.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a data operation method in a blockchain system having an external storage table according to the spirit of the present invention.

The data operation method in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 can be performed by each node 100 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. That is, the data operation method shown in FIG. 5 includes nodes constituting a blockchain network that share a distributed ledger for a smart contract between participants, an external storage that stores data for the smart contract along with the distributed ledger, and , This is a method of using (securing, using, processing) data in a blockchain system that has an external storage table that stores organized information about data stored in the external storage for smart contracts.

A data operation method in a blockchain system with an external storage table shown in FIG. 5 includes the steps of checking the corresponding data item in the external storage table for data required to proceed with a smart contract at a client request (S1200); Checking whether there is valid access to the data item of the external storage table (S1400); If access is valid, accessing the location of the external storage where the corresponding data is stored according to the information described in the external storage table (S1500); And it may include securing the corresponding data at the location (S1600).

FIG. 6 is a detailed flowchart showing an example of the detailed processes of the flowchart of FIG. 5.

A method for preventing storage space waste and saving smart contract waiting time using an external storage table according to the present invention including the configuration described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

Step S1200 in FIG. 5 is embodied as steps S1205 and S1207 in FIG. 6, step S1400 in FIG. 5 is represented as steps S1409 in FIG. 6, and step S1500 in FIG. 5 is embodied as steps S1521 and S1523 in FIG. 6. , step S1600 in Figure 5 is expressed as step S1625 in Figure 6.

As shown in FIG. 6, before the step of checking the corresponding data item in the external storage table of FIG. 5 (S1200), the client requests a smart contract operation from the node belonging to the blockchain network (S1001) ); And it may further include a step (S1003) of the blockchain network operating a smart contract through the consensus algorithm of the blockchain.

In addition, if the access is not valid as a result of the checking whether the access is valid (S1400, S1409), requesting data from the client (S1711); Receiving the data from the client, executing a smart contract, and storing data that has a large capacity or needs to be deleted in external storage (S1713); And after saving, a step of writing data information in the external storage table (S1715) can be performed.

In addition, after performing step S1715, when storing the data in the external storage, propagating the external storage table update to other nodes of the blockchain network (S1717); And a step (S1719) of accessing the external storage from the other nodes and verifying whether the corresponding data has been forged or altered may be further performed.

Steps S1711 to S1719 may be performed even when it is confirmed that the data is not in the external storage in the steps of accessing the location of the external storage (S1500, S1521).

For example, in step S1001, the client may request a smart contract operation from the node 110 belonging to the blockchain network 200.

For example, in step S1003 shown, the smart contract can operate through the consensus algorithm of the corresponding blockchain.

For example, in step S1205 shown, if the smart contract is operating and there is necessary data, it can access the external storage table.

For example, after accessing the external storage table in step S1207 shown, it is possible to check whether the access is valid for the security of the external storage table in step S1209.

If the access is not valid, data can be requested from the client (S1711), the data can be received, a smart contract can be executed, and data with a large capacity or that needs to be deleted can be stored in external storage (S1713). After saving, information about the data stored in the external storage table can be written (S1715).

For example, in step S1717 shown, the node can transmit data to external storage and propagate the external storage table update to other nodes constituting the blockchain. Then, the other nodes can access the external storage and check whether the data has been forged or altered through verification management software (S1719).

If the access is valid in step S1209, the presence of data in the external storage 300 can be checked by accessing the external storage table in step S1521.

If there is no data in step S1521, the same procedure as the invalid case described above is performed. If there is data, check the location of the external storage 300 and access it (S1023). After confirming the data, the smart contract can be used for operation (S1025).

Depending on the implementation, after securing the corresponding data (S1600), operating a smart contract (S1827); A step (S1829) of transmitting the result to the client may be further performed. If the data has been forged or altered in step S1829, the results can be sent to the participant without operating the smart contract.

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains should understand that the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without changing its technical idea or essential features, and that the embodiments described above are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. Just do it. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims described later rather than the detailed description, and all changes or modified forms derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalent concepts should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention. .

100: Node 100-1 ~ N: Other nodes
110: External storage table 130: Access control policy module
140: Verification management module
210: Blockchain operation department 220: Smart contract operation department
240: Distributed ledger
300: External storage 400: Verification server

Claims (15)

Nodes that make up a blockchain network that shares a distributed ledger for smart contracts among participants; and
In addition to the distributed ledger, it includes an external storage that stores data for the smart contract,
Each node is,
An external storage table that stores organized information about data stored in the external storage for smart contracts.
A blockchain system for smart contracts equipped with.
According to paragraph 1,
Each node above is,
a verification management module that verifies data in the external storage; and
Storage space access control policy module responsible for security policy for the external storage
A blockchain system for smart contracts that further includes.
According to paragraph 2,
The blockchain network processes multiple smart contracts,
The storage space access control policy module is,
A blockchain system for smart contracts that designates among the plurality of smart contracts a smart contract that can access each data that can be stored in the external storage.
According to paragraph 2,
The above security policy is,
A blockchain system for smart contracts designated by the administrator who operates the blockchain, or determined through voting by participants in the blockchain network.
According to paragraph 2,
Verification server that verifies data requested by the verification management module
A blockchain system for smart contracts that further includes.
According to paragraph 1,
The external storage table is for data needed for the smart contract,
A blockchain system for smart contracts that can confirm the existence of each data item in the external storage table and confirm whether the corresponding data in the external storage exists for each data item.
According to paragraph 1,
The node is,
A blockchain system for smart contracts that secures necessary data from external storage by checking the external storage table when executing a smart contract to add a block to the distributed ledger.
According to paragraph 1,
The node is,
When data not described in the external storage table is newly input from the outside, the data not described in the external storage is uploaded to the external storage table, the external storage table is updated, and the external storage table is distributed to other nodes belonging to the blockchain network. A blockchain system for smart contracts that transmit update information.
According to clause 8,
The other nodes are,
A blockchain system for smart contracts that accesses the external storage according to the external storage table update information and verifies uploaded data based on a predetermined consensus algorithm.
According to paragraph 2,
The verification management module is,
If an issuing authority exists for data to be stored in the external storage, a blockchain system for smart contracts that receives the data from the issuing authority and uploads it to the external storage.
Nodes that constitute a blockchain network that shares the distributed ledger for smart contracts among participants, an external storage that stores data for the smart contract along with the distributed ledger, and data stored in the external storage for the smart contract. As a data operation method in a blockchain system that has an external storage table that stores organized information,
For data required to proceed with a smart contract at a client request, checking the corresponding data item in the external storage table;
confirming valid access to the data item of the external storage table;
If access is valid, accessing the location of the external storage where the corresponding data is stored according to information described in the external storage table; and
Securing the corresponding data at the location
A data operation method in a blockchain system that includes an external storage table.
According to clause 11,
Before checking the corresponding data item in the external storage table,
The client requests a smart contract operation from a node belonging to the blockchain network; and
Step of the blockchain network operating a smart contract through the consensus algorithm of the blockchain
A data operation method in a blockchain system further comprising:
According to clause 11,
If the access is not valid as a result of performing the step to check whether the access is valid,
requesting data from the client;
Receiving the data from the client, executing a smart contract, and storing data that has a large capacity or needs to be deleted in external storage; and
Step of recording data information in the external storage table after saving
A data operation method in a blockchain system further comprising:
According to clause 11,
In the step of accessing the location of the external storage, if it is confirmed that the data is not in the external storage,
requesting data from the client;
Receiving the data from the client, executing a smart contract, and storing data that has a large capacity or needs to be deleted in external storage; and
Step of recording data information in the external storage table after saving
A data operation method in a blockchain system further comprising:
According to claim 13 or 14,
For storing the data in the external storage, propagating the external storage table update to other nodes in the blockchain network; and
Verifying whether the data has been forged or altered by accessing the external storage from the other nodes
A data operation method in a blockchain system further comprising: