Blockchain Data Storage Research
Glossary
Term Definitions Blockchain A growing list of records that stores data in chronological order, linked and protected using cryptography. Block A single record in a blockchain that contains multiple transactions or data. Shared Node A node in a network that stores a full or partial copy of a blockchain and can be accessed by other nodes. Error Correction Code (ECC) A technique used to control errors during data transmission, achieved by adding redundant bits. Erasure Coding An ECC technique that allows the original data to be recovered from an encoded data set, even if part of the data is lost. Historical State Data State data associated with previous blocks of the blockchain, accessed less frequently. Current State Data State data associated with the current block of the blockchain, accessed more frequently. Fixed Depth Merkle Tree (FDMT) A data structure used to efficiently store and retrieve blockchain state data. Hash A one-way function that converts data of arbitrary length into a fixed-length value. Merkle Root Hash A hash value stored in a block header that represents the hash of all transactions in the block.
Short Answer Questions
What are shared nodes in a blockchain network? What role do they play?
Shared nodes in a blockchain network are responsible for storing full or partial copies of blockchain data. Their role is to provide other nodes with access to data, especially in situations where historical state data or ECC-encoded block data needs to be retrieved.
What does error correction code (ECC) refer to in the context of blockchain data storage?
ECC is a technology used to control errors during data transmission. In blockchain, ECC can be used to encode block data so that data can be recovered even if part of the data is lost or damaged.
Explain the difference between historical state data and current state data.
Historical state data refers to data associated with previous blocks of the blockchain, while current state data refers to data associated with the current block of the blockchain. Typically, historical state data is accessed less frequently and can be stored on shared nodes to save storage space.
What is a fixed-depth Merkle tree (FDMT)? How is it used in blockchain?
An FDMT is a data structure used to efficiently store and retrieve blockchain state data. In blockchain, an FDMT can be used to store both historical state data and current state data, allowing for quick retrieval of account status.
Describe the encoding and hashing process of block data in a blockchain.
In a blockchain, block data is first encoded using ECC (such as erasure coding). The encoded block data is then divided into multiple data sets. One data set is stored, and the remaining data sets are hashed. Finally, the hash value is stored along with the stored data set.
Why is storing historical state data on shared nodes beneficial to blockchain networks?
Storing historical state data on shared nodes is beneficial to blockchain networks because it saves storage space and improves efficiency. Since historical state data is accessed less frequently, it is inefficient to store it on all nodes.
Explain the importance of data redundancy in blockchain networks.
Data redundancy is essential to ensure the reliability and fault tolerance of blockchain networks. By storing multiple copies of data on different nodes, the network can continue to operate even if some nodes fail.
How does a blockchain node retrieve block data stored on another node?
A blockchain node can retrieve block data by sending the corresponding hash value to the node storing the required data. The receiving node can use the hash value to locate and retrieve the data.
What does "data equality" mean in the context of blockchain data storage?
"Data equality" means that all nodes participating in a blockchain network should be able to access the same data, regardless of their storage capacity.
Describe how a blockchain node verifies the authenticity of data received from another node.
A blockchain node can verify the authenticity of data by comparing the hash value of the received data with the corresponding hash value it stores. If the hash values match, the data is considered authentic.