Network resources log validation methods and pruning mechanisms using blockchain
A computer-implemented method of reducing size of a blockchain. The method includes the steps of providing a series of data files; generating, at a time interval, a series of processed files based on filtering and/or aggregation of the series of data files; for each one of the series of processed files, computing a hash value; adding the hash values respectively to a blockchain as blocks; and storing the series of processed files off the blockchain. The proposed invention aims to develop methods to monitor and validate SLA on the blockchain. It facilitates the faster creation of network resource sharing in a 5G network and reducing the blockchain computational resources required.
1 . A computer-implemented method of pruning a blockchain containing Service Level Agreement (SLA) records of a cellular network; the method comprising steps of:
a) identifying, on a blockchain, a SLA record that is overdue;
b) identifying, on the blockchain, a latest block representing a proof of the SLA record;
c) determining an optimized location on the blockchain that corresponds to a gain that is maximum;
d) setting a next block after the optimized location as a pseudo genesis block; and
e) defining part of the blockchain that starts with the pseudo genesis block as a pruned chain.
2 . The computer-implemented of claim 1 , wherein the SLA record that is overdue has a retention date which has passed.
3 . The computer-implemented of claim 1 , wherein the gain is calculated as a number of block(s) that can be pruned before the pseudo genesis block, minus a number of extra block(s) that need to be replicated after the pseudo genesis block.
4 . The computer-implemented of claim 3 , wherein the extra block(s) comprising one or more blocks each representing a non-overdue SLA record or a log proof thereof.
5 . The computer-implemented of claim 4 , wherein the log proof of the non-overdue SLA record is a hash value of a processed file based on filtering and/or aggregation of one or more data files; the data files being network resource log files of the cellular network.
6 . The computer-implemented of claim 1 , further comprises, before Step a), a step of determining a percentage of all overdue blocks on the blockchain among all blocks on the block chain; the method going to Step a) only when the percentage is above a threshold.
7 . The computer-implemented of claim 1 , wherein Step a) further comprises identify more than one SLA records that are overdue; and Step b) further comprising identifying a latest block for each of the overdue SLA records.
8 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer instructions recorded thereon, the computer instructions, when executed on one or more processors, causing the one or more processors to perform operations according to the method according to claim 1 .
9 . A computing system comprising:
one or more processors; and
memory containing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform operations according to the method of claim 1 .