Message Balance and Control System

Keyword List

Term DefinitionBalance and Control (B&C)The process of ensuring that data transmission between systems is accurate, complete, and timely. BlockchainA distributed database that maintains records in a readable and tamper-proof manner.Smart ContractA self-executing contract that runs on a blockchain and is used to execute agreements based on predefined rules and conditions.Message Transfer AgentA middleware program module that receives, transforms, and transmits messages between provider systems and consumer systems.Message Transmission AcknowledgementA record written to the blockchain by the provider system or consumer system after transmitting a message, which contains metadata about the message transmission.Message AcknowledgementA record written to the blockchain by the provider system or consumer system after receiving a message, which contains metadata about the message transmission.Message Exchange PatternA set of rules that define the order and process of message exchange between a provider system and a consumer system.Incoming Only Exchange PatternMessages are transmitted only from a consumer system to a provider system.Outgoing Only Exchange PatternMessages are transmitted only from a provider system to a consumer system.Optional Incoming-Outgoing Exchange PatternA consumer system transmits messages to a provider system, and the provider system can optionally send messages back to the consumer system. Optional Outgoing-Incoming Exchange Pattern The provider system transmits a message to the consumer system, and the consumer system can optionally send a message back to the provider system. Robust Incoming-Only Exchange Pattern The consumer system transmits a message to the provider system, the provider system sends a status message to the consumer system, and if the status message indicates a failure, the consumer system sends a second message to the provider system. Robust Outgoing-Only Exchange Pattern The provider system transmits a message to the consumer system, the consumer system sends a status message to the provider system, and if the status message indicates a failure, the provider system sends a second message to the consumer system. Hash A unique string of characters generated from a message using a hash function that is used to verify the integrity of a message. API (Application Programming Interface) A set of rules and specifications that define how software components interact with each other. Web3 API A set of APIs designed specifically for interacting with blockchain-based applications such as Ethereum. Monitoring Device A device that is configured to read a block of blockchain data to determine whether a particular message transfer is balanced. Imbalance Alert Notification that an error has occurred during a message transfer. Short Answer Questions

Instructions: Answer each of the following questions in 2-3 sentences.

What is the purpose of a Balance and Control (B&C) system?

What role does blockchain play in a B&C system?

What is a smart contract and how is it used in a B&C system?

What is the purpose of a messaging agent?

What is the difference between a message transmission confirmation and a message acknowledgement?

What are message exchange patterns?

List and describe three message exchange patterns.

How does a monitoring device determine if a message transmission is out of balance?

What is an out of balance alarm and when is it generated?

What are the advantages of the described system over existing technologies?

Short answer questions

What is the purpose of a balance and control (B&C) system? The purpose of a B&C system is to ensure that data transmission between systems is accurate, complete, and timely. It involves monitoring and verifying message transmissions to identify and resolve any discrepancies.

What role does blockchain play in a B&C system? Blockchain acts as a tamper-proof log of message transmissions and related communications. It provides a secure, decentralized database to store message transmission confirmations, message acknowledgements, and out of balance events.

What is a smart contract and how is it used in a B&C system? A smart contract is a self-executing contract that runs on a blockchain. In a B&C system, smart contracts are used to automate the process of verifying message transmissions and recording transmission history.

What is the purpose of a messaging broker? A messaging broker acts as an intermediary between provider systems and consumer systems. It receives, transforms, and routes messages, and can perform other functions such as message aggregation or data retrieval.

What is the difference between a message delivery confirmation and a message confirmation? A message delivery confirmation is written to the blockchain by the system that sent the message (provider or consumer), while a message confirmation is written by the system that receives the message.

What is a message exchange pattern? A message exchange pattern defines the order and process in which messages are exchanged between provider systems and consumer systems. It specifies the expected message flow and any optional or required responses.

List and describe three message exchange patterns.

Incoming-only exchange pattern: Messages are only transferred from consumer systems to provider systems, with no response required.

Optional incoming-outgoing exchange pattern: The consumer system sends a message to the provider system, and the provider system can optionally send a message back.

Robust incoming-only exchange pattern: The consumer system sends a message to the provider system, and the provider system sends a status message. If the status is "failed," the consumer system sends a second message.

How can a monitoring device determine if message delivery is unbalanced? The monitoring device reads the blockchain data block, compares the transmitted hash value and the received hash value, and checks if there is a timeout. If the hash values do not match or a timeout occurs, the message transmission is considered unbalanced.

What is an imbalance alert and when is it generated? An imbalance alert is a notification generated when a message transmission error (such as a hash value mismatch or timeout) is detected. This alert can then be sent to the user or system for further investigation or resolution.

What are the advantages of the described system over the prior art? The system described in the patent simplifies B&C operations by leveraging the decentralized and tamper-proof characteristics of blockchain to provide near real-time verification and recording of message transmissions. It eliminates the need for third-party intermediaries and improves transparency and efficiency in various applications such as e-commerce platforms