Methods and nodes for verification of data

A first data handling node configured to verify data in a data distribution network with multiple data handling nodes forming a distribution path in a network topology, the first data handling node comprising:

• a receiving unit adapted to receive, from a second data handling node in the data distribution network, distributed data and a hash tag generated based on at least one previous hash tag received from at least one preceding third data handling node in the distribution path, the at least one third data handling node having delivered data to the second data handling node, wherein the received distributed data has been generated by the second data handling node based on the data delivered by the at least one third data handling node, wherein the received distributed data is dependent on source data generated by at least one source node in the distribution path, and wherein said received distributed data and said hash tags are directly or indirectly based on the source data,
• an obtaining unit adapted to obtain tag information from a hash server which tag information is used for verification of the received hash tag, wherein said at least one previous hash tag has been registered in the hash server, and
• a verifying unit adapted to verify the received distributed data based on the tag information from the hash server, said tag information indicating whether the hash tag received from the second data handling node corresponds to a valid hash tag calculated by applying a predefined hash algorithm on the at least one previous hash tag registered in the hash server.

A computer program comprising computer readable code which, when run on a data handling node, which comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium, causes the data handling node to receive, from a second data handling node in the data distribution network, distributed data and a hash tag generated based on at least one previous hash tag received from at least one preceding third data handling node in the distribution path, the at least one third data handling node having delivered data to the second data handling node, wherein the received distributed data has been generated by the second data handling node based on the data delivered by the at least one third data handling node, wherein the received distributed data is dependent on source data generated by at least one source node in the distribution path, and wherein said received distributed data and said hash tags are directly or indirectly based on the source data;

• obtain tag information from a hash server which tag information is used for verification of the received hash tag, wherein said at least one previous hash tag has been registered in the hash server;
• and
• verify the received distributed data based on the tag information from the hash server, said tag information indicating whether the hash tag received from the second data handling node corresponds to a valid hash tag calculated by applying a predefined hash algorithm on the at least one previous hash tag registered in the hash server.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium, and a computer program, wherein the computer program is stored on the computer readable medium, and wherein the computer program comprises computer readable code which, when run on a data handling node, causes the data handling node to

• receive, from a second data handling node in the data distribution network, distributed data and a hash tag generated based on at least one previous hash tag received from at least one preceding third data handling node in the distribution path, the at least one third data handling node having delivered data to the second data handling node, wherein the received distributed data has been generated by the second data handling node based on the data delivered by the at least one third data handling node, wherein the received distributed data is dependent on source data generated by at least one source node in the distribution path, and wherein said received distributed data and said hash tags are directly or indirectly based on the source data;
• obtain tag information from a hash server which tag information is used for verification of the received hash tag, wherein said at least one previous hash tag has been registered in the hash server;
• and
• verify the received distributed data based on the tag information from the hash server, said tag information indicating whether the hash tag received from the second data handling node corresponds to a valid hash tag calculated by applying a predefined hash algorithm on the at least one previous hash tag registered in the hash server.

A method performed by a hash server for enabling verification of data in a data distribution network with multiple data handling nodes forming a data distribution path of a network topology, the method comprising:

• receiving hash tags for registration, sent from at least some of the data handling nodes, said hash tags comprising a source hash tag originating from a source node having generated source data, and consecutive hash tags originating from succeeding data handling nodes situated after the source node in the distribution path, wherein each of the consecutive hash tags has been generated by a corresponding data handling node by applying a predefined hash algorithm on at least a hash tag received from an immediately preceding node in the distribution path,
• receiving a request for tag information from a requesting data handling node of the data handling nodes, wherein the requesting data handling node has received data and a hash tag from an immediately preceding data handling node in the distribution path,
• determining the tag information based on at least one of the hash tags originating from preceding data handling nodes situated before the requesting data handling node in the distribution path according to the determined network topology, and
• returning the determined tag information to the requesting data handling node for enabling the requesting data handling node to use the tag information to verify the received data.

A hash server configured for enabling verification of data in a data distribution network with multiple data handling nodes forming a data distribution path of a network topology, the hash server comprising:

• a first receiving unit adapted to receive hash tags for registration from at least some of the data handling nodes, said hash tags comprising a source hash tag originating from a source node having generated source data, and consecutive hash tags originating from succeeding data handling nodes situated after the source node in the distribution path, wherein each of the consecutive hash tags has been generated by a corresponding data handling node by applying a predefined hash algorithm on at least a hash tag received from an immediately preceding node in the distribution path,
• a second receiving unit adapted to receive a request for tag information from a requesting data handling node of the data handling nodes, wherein the requesting data handling node has received data and a hash tag from an immediately preceding data handling node in the distribution path, and
• a logic unit adapted to determine the tag information based on at least one of the hash tags originating from preceding data handling nodes situated before the requesting data handling node in the distribution path according to the determined network topology,
• wherein the second receiving unit is further adapted to return the determined tag information to the requesting data handling node, thereby enabling the requesting data handling node to use the tag information to verify the received data.

A method performed by a data handling node for enabling verification of data in a data distribution network with multiple data handling nodes forming a distribution path of a network topology, the method comprising:

• receiving from a preceding data handling node in the distribution path, distributed data and a hash tag generated by the preceding data handling node,
• generating new data based on the received distributed data,
• generating a new hash tag based on at least the received hash tag,
• delivering the new data and the new hash tag to a subsequent data handling node, and
• sending the new hash tag to a hash server for registration for enabling the subsequent data handling node to verify the delivered new data based on tag information from the hash server, said tag information indicating whether the delivered new hash tag corresponds to a valid hash tag calculated by applying a predefined hash algorithm on at least one previous hash tag generated by at least one preceding data handling node and registered in the hash server.

A data handling node configured to enable verification of data in a data distribution network with multiple data handling nodes forming a distribution path of a network topology, the data handling node comprising:

• a receiving unit adapted to receive, from a preceding data handling node in the distribution path, distributed data and a hash tag generated by the preceding data handling node,
• a first generating unit adapted to generate new data based on the received distributed data,
• a second generating unit adapted to generate a new hash tag based on at least the received hash tag, and
• a sending unit adapted to send the new data and the new hash tag to a subsequent data handling node,
• wherein the second generating unit is further adapted to send the new hash tag to a hash server for registration for enabling the subsequent data handling node to verify the delivered new data based on tag information from the hash server, said tag information indicating whether the delivered new hash tag corresponds to a valid hash tag calculated by applying a predefined hash algorithm on at least one previous hash tag generated by at least one preceding data handling node and registered in the hash server.