Blockchain sharding with adjustable quorums
AssigneeVisa International Service Association
InventorsMahdi Zamani, Mustafa Ozdayi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method includes broadcasting, by a node computer, a propose message comprising a new block for a blockchain to a plurality of node computers in a network shard. The node computer can receive at least one vote message from the plurality of node computers, the at least one vote message indicating verification of the new block. The node computer can, after a predetermined amount of time, receive a plurality of pre-commit messages comprising at least the new block and a block certificate created based on the at least one vote message. If the number of received pre-commit messages of the plurality of pre-commit messages is greater than a quorum value associated with the network shard, the node computer can commit the new block to the blockchain.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- broadcasting, by a node computer, a propose message comprising a new block of transactions for a blockchain and a previous block certificate for a previous block to a plurality of node computers in a network shard, the previous block certificate including data indicating that the previous block was committed to the blockchain which comprises a threshold signature that was generated based on a quorum of signed vote messages for the previous block from nodes in the network shard, the plurality of node computers in the network shard being a sub-group of node computers in a computer network comprising a plurality of network shards including the network shard;
- receiving, by the node computer, at least one vote message from the plurality of node computers after the plurality of node computers verify the previous block certificate, the at least one vote message indicating verification of the new block of transactions;
- after a predetermined amount of time, receiving, by the node computer, a plurality of pre-commit messages comprising at least the new block of transactions and a new block certificate created based on the at least one vote message;
- and
- if a number of received pre-commit messages of the plurality of pre-commit messages is greater than a quorum value associated with the network shard, committing, by the node computer, the new block of transactions to the blockchain.
A node computer comprising:
- a hardware processor, and
- a non-transitory computer readable medium coupled to the hardware processor, the non-transitory computer readable medium comprising code, executable by the hardware processor, to implement a method comprising:
- broadcasting a propose message comprising a new block of transactions for a blockchain and a previous block certificate for a previous block to a plurality of node computers in a network shard, the previous block certificate including data indicating that the previous block was committed to the blockchain which comprises a threshold signature that was generated based on a quorum of signed vote messages for the previous block from node computers in the network shard, the plurality of node computers in the network shard being a sub-group of node computers in a computer network comprising a plurality of network shards including the network shard;
- receiving at least one vote message from the plurality of node computers after the plurality of node computers verify the previous block certificate, the at least one vote message indicating verification of the new block of transactions;
- after a predetermined amount of time, receiving a plurality of pre-commit messages comprising at least the new block of transactions and a new block certificate created based on the at least one vote message;
- and
- if a number of received pre-commit messages of the plurality of pre-commit messages is greater than a quorum value associated with the network shard, committing the new block of transactions to the blockchain.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.