WO2020114310A1

WO2020114310A1 - Method, network node and network for recording and providing data,

Info

Publication number: WO2020114310A1
Application number: PCT/CN2019/121569
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zhancang WANG
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 2018-12-03
Filing date: 2019-11-28
Publication date: 2020-06-11
Also published as: CN109587237B; CN109587237A

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method, a network node and a network for recording and providing data. The method for recording and providing data includes: storing data in a first blockchain data structure; and according to a predetermined condition, extracting, from the data stored in the first blockchain data structure, a data portion satisfying the predetermined condition so as to store the data portion in a second blockchain data structure. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, it is not necessary to provide all data into the second blockchain data structure, which may improve the security of the data and also reduce the storage cost of the second blockchain data structure.

Description

METHOD, NETWORK NODE AND NETWORK FOR RECORDING AND PROVIDING DATA,

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to information technology, and in particular, to a method, a network node and a network for recording and providing data.

BACKGROUND

With the development of network technology, more and more devices may be connected into a network to form an "Internet of Things. " In such a network, the generation and recording of a large amount of data as well as data provision for specific needs are often involved.

For example, in an application of the Internet of Vehicles, a vehicle generates a large amount of data using a sensor device during driving, so as to reflect the state of the vehicle itself and the environment in which the vehicle is located. Certain portions of the data also need to be propagated through the network to achieve coordinated operation between vehicles. In addition, the data also needs to be able to be stored, viewed, and used, for service and/or supervision of the vehicle.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method, a network node and a network for recording and providing data.

A first aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for recording and providing data performed in a network node, including: storing data in a first blockchain data structure; and according to a predetermined condition, extracting, from the data stored in the first blockchain data structure, a data portion satisfying the predetermined condition, such that the data portion is stored in a second blockchain data structure.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the network node is located in a first network, and the first blockchain data structure is configured to be distributedly stored in at least one node of the first network.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the network node includes a vehicle-mounted terminal to collect data.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the first network further includes: a storage server configured to store data; and a verification server configured to verify data.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the method for recording and providing data further includes: transmitting the data portion to a second network; wherein the data portion is stored in the second blockchain data structure by a node in the second network; and wherein the second blockchain data structure is configured to be distributedly stored in at least one node of the second network.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the second network further includes a data collection server.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the network node is further located in the second network, and the method for recording and providing data further includes: forming a data block including the data portion; and transmitting the data block to other nodes in the second network, so that the data block is verified by the other nodes.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the data block is transmitted in a broadcast manner.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the method for recording and providing data further includes: receiving verification results from the other nodes; and when the verification results from more than a predetermined number of nodes in the second network are the verification being passed, adding the data block into an existing data chain of the second blockchain data structure, so as to store the data portion in the second blockchain data structure.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the verification results are transmitted by the other nodes in a broadcast manner in the second network.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the predetermined number of nodes is 2/3 of the nodes.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, at least a portion of the nodes in the second network and backup nodes of the nodes in the second network are generated via an election in the first network.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the election is performed periodically.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the second blockchain data structure is configured to store data portions from a plurality of first blockchain data structures.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the method for recording and providing data further includes determining whether to provide the data portion satisfying the predetermined condition, based on an authorization of the owner of the data.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the method for recording and providing data further includes: responsive to storage of the data portion in the second blockchain data structure, obtaining an incentive to the owner of the data.

A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a network node, including: a memory; and a processor operably coupled to the memory; wherein the processor is configured to run a program to perform: storing data in a first blockchain data structure; and according to a predetermined condition, extracting, from the data stored in the first blockchain data structure, a data portion satisfying the predetermined condition, such that the data portion is stored in a second blockchain data structure.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor is configured to run a program to perform the method of any of the above.

A third aspect of the present disclosure provides a network including the network node of any of the above.

A fourth aspect of the present disclosure provides a computer readable storage medium, on which a computer program that, when executed on at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform the method of any of the above, is stored.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, data is stored in the first blockchain data structure, and then the extracted data portions are stored into the second blockchain data structure for different predetermined conditions. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide all the data into the second blockchain data structure. The security of the data may be improved and the storage cost of the second blockchain data structure may be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the accompanying drawings of the embodiments will be briefly described below. It should be noted that the drawings described below relate only to some embodiments of the present disclosure, not as the limitations of the present disclosure, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network having multiple network nodes;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary flowchart of a method for recording and providing data performed in a network node according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary block diagram of a first blockchain data structure and a second blockchain data structure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a data block;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing other exemplary steps of the method shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing other exemplary steps of the method shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing other exemplary steps of the method shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary block diagram of a network node provided by embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In order to make the technical solution and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure clearer, the technical solution of the embodiments of the present invention will be described clearly and completely in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present disclosure described herein, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without the need for creative labor also fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network having multiple network nodes. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of network nodes 101 are included in the network 10, and the network nodes 101 are connected and communicated with each other through a network connection 102. The network connection 102 may be implemented in any manner, for example, the network node 101 may be a mobile terminal capable of accessing a cellular communication network. These network nodes 101 may include vehicle-mounted terminals having network communication capabilities and generate data related to vehicle operations. According to the mutual relationship between the network nodes 101, a first network 100 and a second network 200 may be further divided in the network. It should be understood that the division may be performed by any rule. For example, the first network 100 may be divided based on the location of a vehicle, the brand model of the vehicle, the operation time, and the like, and the second network 200 may be divided based on the type of data provided.

In order to record the data of the network node 101 and ensure the authenticity of the data, one possible way is to establish a server to collect and store data in real time to prevent forgery or falsification. However, centralized data recording requires significant resource investment and maintenance costs, which may result in inefficient data recording and acquisition analysis.

In addition, depending on different data analysis needs, different portions of the data need to be used. In the case of not knowing what kind of data will be needed later, requiring a vehicle to always provide all the data increases the cost of processing and storage, and it is difficult to achieve the need to maintain privacy. For example, a network node in the first network 100 may also not wish to provide all of the detailed information outward.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary flowchart of a method for recording and providing data performed in a network node according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2, the method for recording and providing data includes: step S210 of storing data in a first blockchain data structure; and step S220 of, according to a predetermined condition, extracting, from the data stored in the first blockchain data structure, a data portion satisfying the predetermined condition, such that the data portion is stored in a second blockchain data structure.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the data is stored in the first blockchain data structure, and then the extracted data portions are stored in the second blockchain data structure for different predetermined conditions. The first blockchain data structure may store data and ensure data integrity. In the second blockchain data structure, only storing the required data under predetermined conditions may reduce the cost of processing and storage, and is also beneficial for maintaining privacy. For example, in an unmanned driving application, a large amount of data related to driving behavior (e.g., braking, steering, acceleration, avoidance, etc. performed in a particular scenario) may be collected to train an algorithm, while other information (e.g., vehicle model, service life, owner's personal information, etc. ) may not be collected.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary block diagram of a first blockchain data structure and a second blockchain data structure. FIG. 3 illustrates a plurality of first blockchain data structures 301, and a second blockchain data structure 302 associated therewith. The first blockchain data structures 301 and the second blockchain data structure 302 may be the same in forming rules. That is, they both add data blocks B1, B2, B3, ... BN to an existing data chain C after undergoing a cryptographic operation H (for example, HASH calculation) .

The first blockchain data structures 301 may be generated and maintained by network nodes in the first network 100 to record raw data generated by the respective network nodes 101. The first blockchain data structures 301 may be distributedly stored in at least one node of the first network 100. The network node 101 may include a vehicle-mounted terminal to collect data. The data collected by the vehicle-mounted terminal may be information such as vehicle location, motion trajectory, operating condition, etc., and the data may be stored as valid data for the first blockchain data structures 301 in a data block B. The data block B may be added by each node in the same first network 100, and the specific manner is not limited. Further, in the case where the network node 101 is a vehicle-mounted terminal, information of other vehicles may also be known by reading the valid data in the data block B to implement functions such as vehicle cooperation. The specific manner of reading, the privacy policy that may be involved, and the like may be implemented by any means, which is not limited herein.

In addition, in embodiments of the present disclosure, the storage of the first blockchain data structures 301 in a distributed manner does not hinder the traditional centralized management. For example, the first network 100 may further include: a storage server configured to store the data of all the network nodes 101 in the first network 100; and a verification server configured to verify the data prior to storage. The verification may include verification of the authenticity of the data, or it may be a simple analysis of the data so as to remove useless data. The storage server and the verification server may be implemented by any technical means, and the specific manner is not limited.

Where the plurality of first networks 100 store raw data, a network node of the second network 200 may implement operations across the plurality of first networks 100 to generate and maintain a second blockchain data structure. FIG. 3 shows that a network node of the second network 200 runs a smart contract 303 to obtain data portions from a plurality of first blockchain data structures 301 and to create data blocks in the second blockchain data structure 302.

As a simple example, the first network 100 may be a vehicle network composed of different vehicle manufacturers and their alliances, or companies, and information is not circulated between the first networks 100. With the operation of the second network 200, these different vehicle manufacturers and their alliances, or companies, may provide insurance companies and the like with required information, such as the operating conditions of a vehicle within a certain operation period range. Not all details need to be provided, and the information provided does not need to be circulated to other first networks 100, so as to ensure security.

It should be understood that, in FIG. 3, B2, B3, and BN in the second blockchain data structure 302 point to different first blockchain data structures 301, respectively, for convenience of explanation. However, this does not limit that one block B may only contain data from one first blockchain data structure 301. Depending on the purpose of the collected data, each block B may include data portions from any number of first blockchain data structures 301. Further, the specific content of the data portion herein is not limited, and may be different depending on predetermined conditions. For example, the predetermined condition may be a condition related to the vehicle location, or the operation period, or the brand model or the like. The data portion may be information satisfying the above condition, such as a specific vehicle location, or the operation period.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a data block. As shown in FIG. 4, the data block B may include: a time stamp 401 to indicate the time at which the current data block B has been formed; a valid payload 402 including valid data 403 and a signature 404 for verifying the valid data 403; and a random number 405 for verifying the data block B.

The valid data 403 of the data block B of the first blockchain data structure 301 may be data collected by the network node 101. The valid data 403 of the data block B of the second blockchain data structure 302 may be the data portions from one or more of the first blockchain data structures 301.

The data block contains the digital signature 404, and other nodes may verify the signature information in the data block using the public key of the node that has generated the data block B. The data block may also contain data integrity verification information such as SHA256 and MD5 code to facilitate verification by other nodes.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing other exemplary steps of the method shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 5, in embodiments of the present disclosure, the method for recording and providing data further includes: step S510 of transmitting the data portion to the second network. The data portion is then stored by the node in the second network in the second blockchain data structure. The second blockchain data structure is configured to be distributedly stored in at least one node of the second network.

In the case shown in FIG. 5, the network node 101 storing data and providing the data portion therein may not be included in the second network 200, and thus, operations related to the second blockchain data structure 302 cannot be directly performed. However, the network node 101 may transmit a data portion that satisfies a predetermined condition to any node in the second network 200, or may broadcast in the second network 200.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing other exemplary steps of the method shown in FIG. 2.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the network node may also be located in the second network, i.e., the network node 101 storing the data and providing the data portion therein may be included in the second network 200. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the method for recording and providing data further includes: step S610 of forming a data block including a data portion; and step S620 of transmitting the data block to other nodes in the second network so that the data block is verified by other nodes, wherein the data block may be transmitted in a broadcast manner; step S630 of receiving the verification results from the other nodes, wherein the verification results may be transmitted by the other nodes in a broadcast manner in the second network; and step S640 of, according to the verification results, adding the data block into an existing data chain of the second blockchain data structure. Specifically, when the verification results from more than a predetermined number of nodes in the second network are the verification being passed, the data block is added into an existing data chain of the second blockchain data structure so as to store the data portion in the second blockchain data structure, wherein the predetermined number of nodes may be 2/3 of nodes in the second network so as to implement the Byzantine fault tolerance mechanism.

Although each network node in the second network 200 may complete the generation and maintenance of the second blockchain data structure 302, similar to the first network 100, in embodiments of the present disclosure, the second network may further include: a data collection server. The data collection server may back up the second blockchain data structure 302, or may broadcast the predetermined condition in the second network 200 such that the nodes in the second network 200 may be able to perform the work of generating the data block B. In addition, the data collection server may act as a relay for data provisioning. That is, for example, when an automobile manufacturer, a vehicle insurance company, or a vehicle management organization desires to obtain a data service, the demand may be uniformly published through the data collection server, such that the process is simplified and the security is improved.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, at least a portion of the nodes in the second network and the backup nodes of the nodes in the second network may be generated via an election in the first network. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the election is performed periodically.

Specifically, the nodes of the second network 200 are generated in a voting manner. In the network 10, a predetermined voting time may be specified, and the issued ticket may directly use a commonly used token in a blockchain system. During the voting time, a voter transfers the token to the electee to express his support. After the election is completed, the nodes of the second network 200 may perform the work of generating the data block in turn according to a predetermined schedule. When the predetermined node does not complete the work of generating the data block, the backup node may formally join the second network 200 for replacement.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing other exemplary steps of the method shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 7, in embodiments of the present disclosure, the method for recording and providing data further includes: step S710 of determining whether to provide a data portion satisfying a predetermined condition based on an authorization of the owner of the data.

Under the hierarchical mechanism using the first blockchain data structure 301 and the second blockchain data structure 302, measures such as privacy protection of data and the like can be more conveniently implemented. The owner of the data, such as the owner of the vehicle, may clearly know what information is being provided outward. The owner may perform privacy settings on the human-machine interface on the vehicle-mounted terminal, for example, by selecting options such as "Allow location information provision" and "Prohibit location information provision" , so as to facilitate management.

Moreover, in embodiments of the present disclosure, the method for recording and providing data further includes: step S720 of, responsive to storage of the data portion in the second blockchain data structure, obtaining an incentive to the owner of the data. In a blockchain system, data may be used as a transactional commodity, and the data provider may obtain a token as an incentive. This also promotes the enthusiasm of data owners to share data. The transaction information including transferring the token may be directly included in the data block B, and the transaction process may be performed simply and quickly.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary block diagram of a network node provided by embodiments of the present disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a network node 101 including: a memory 801; and a processor 802 operatively coupled to the memory 801; wherein the processor 802 is configured to run a program to perform: storing data in a first blockchain data structure; and according to a predetermined condition, extracting, from the data stored in the first blockchain data structure, a data portion satisfying the predetermined condition, such that the data portion is stored in a second blockchain data structure. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor may be configured to run a program to perform the method of any of the above, for example the methods described according to FIGS. 2 and 5-7.

The network node 101 may also include a communication module 803 in any form for communicating, transmitting, and receiving information in the network. For example, the communication module 803 may be any module having wired/wireless communication capabilities. The communication module 803 may cause the network node 101 to connect to a cellular communication network or the like to implement networking connection functions.

It should be understood that processor 802 may be any hardware having processing functionality, such as a central processing unit (CPU) , a micro control unit (MCU) , a digital signal processor (DSP) , a field programmable gate array (FPGA) , and the like. The processor 802 may include different hardware components to perform different method steps, or implement different functions, or the processor 802 may run different program modules to implement different method steps or implement different functions.

Based on such a structure, the network node 101 may be a computer in any form, for example, a personal computer, a server, or the like that is independently provided, or may be a computer embedded in another device, for example, a vehicle-mounted terminal/vehicle-mounted computer of a vehicle or the like.

Embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program that, when executed on at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform the method of any of the above, for example the methods described according to FIGS. 2 and 5-7. The computer readable storage medium may be read by the network node 101 such that the network node 101 performs the actions described above. The computer readable storage medium may be any electrical, magnetic, or optical storage medium, such as a hard disk, a memory, a flash memory, an optical disk, and the like.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, data is stored in the first blockchain data structure, and then the extracted data portions are stored into the second blockchain data structure for different predetermined conditions, so that it is not necessary to provide all the data into the second blockchain data structure, which may improve the security of the data and reduce the storage cost of the second blockchain data structure.

It is to be understood that the above embodiments are merely exemplary embodiments employed to explain the principles of the present disclosure, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Various modifications and improvements may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. These modifications and improvements are also considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

A method for recording and providing data performed in a network node, comprising:

storing data in a first blockchain data structure; and

according to a predetermined condition, extracting, from the data stored in the first blockchain data structure, a data portion satisfying the predetermined condition, such that the data portion is stored in a second blockchain data structure.
The method for recording and providing data according to claim 1, wherein,

the network node is located in a first network,

the first blockchain data structure is configured to be distributedly stored in at least one node of the first network.
The method for recording and providing data according to claim 2, wherein,

the network node comprises a vehicle-mounted terminal to collect the data.
The method for recording and providing data according to claim 3, wherein,

the first network further comprises:

a storage server configured to store the data; and

a verification server configured to verify the data.
The method for recording and providing data according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:

transmitting the data portion to a second network;

wherein the data portion is stored in the second blockchain data structure by a node in the second network; and

the second blockchain data structure is configured to be distributedly stored in at least one node of the second network.
The method for recording and providing data according to claim 5, wherein,

the second network further comprises a data collection server.
The method for recording and providing data according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein,

the network node is further located in a second network, and

the method for recording and providing data further comprises:

forming a data block comprising the data portion;

transmitting the data block to other nodes in the second network such that the data block is verified by the other nodes.
The method for recording and providing data according to claim 7, wherein the data block is transmitted in a broadcast manner.
The method for recording and providing data according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising:

receiving verification results from the other nodes; and

when the verification results from more than a predetermined number of nodes in the second network are the verification being passed, adding the data block into an existing data chain of the second blockchain data structure, so as to store the data portion in the second blockchain data structure.
The method for recording and providing data according to claim 9, wherein the verification results are transmitted by the other nodes in a broadcast manner in the second network.
The method for recording and providing data according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined number of nodes is 2/3 of the nodes.
The method for recording and providing data according to claim 7, wherein,

at least a portion of the nodes in the second network and backup nodes of the nodes in the second network are generated via an election in the first network.
The method for recording and providing data according to claim 12, wherein the election is performed periodically.
The method for recording and providing data according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second blockchain data structure is configured to store data portions from a plurality of the first blockchain data structures.
The method for recording and providing data according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:

based on an authorization of the owner of the data, determining whether to provide the data portion satisfying the predetermined condition.
The method for recording and providing data according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:

responsive to storage of the data portion in the second blockchain data structure, obtaining an incentive to the owner of the data.
A network node comprising:

a memory; and

a processor operatively coupled to the memory;

wherein the processor is configured to run a program to execute:

storing data in a first blockchain data structure; and

according to a predetermined condition, extracting, from the data stored in the first blockchain data structure, a data portion satisfying the predetermined condition so as to store the data portion in a second blockchain data structure.
The network node according to claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to run a program to perform the method according to any one of claims 2 to 16.
A network comprising the network node according to claim 17 or 18.
A computer readable storage medium, on which a computer program that, when executed on at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, is stored.