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Protocol Introduction

Abstract

The protocol topic is comprised of the components that bind the network architecture together, ranging from node specifications over consensus algorithms and ledger permissions up to security and scalability considerations. The section will also document protocol updates and maintanence measures as well as externally relevant aspects such the interoperability with other networks.

Motivation

In order to start and run a fully functional blockchain network the members need to dive into more technical aspects that enable the actual implementation of the system.

Considerations on node functionality, how formal compliance requirements are realized, node monitoring as well as node software updates are central to running and mainteining a node.

Furthermore, defining the possible spectrum of permissions that are available for the network actors is extremely useful for tailoring the capabilities of the users to the expected requirements.

Scalability and security are well known to be mutually exclusive when decentrality is already present (blockchain trilemma), therefore treating both in a comprehensive manner can inform about their benefits and pitfalls.

Finally, aspects relating to interoperability with other networks and protocol updates help with utilizing external resources and aid with rolling updates among the netowork members respectively.

Bibliography of selected references

Daian, Philip, Steven Goldfeder, Tyler Kell, Yunqi Li, Xueyuan Zhao, Iddo Bentov, Lorenz Breidenbach, and Ari Juels. 2019. ‘Flash Boys 2.0: Frontrunning, Transaction Reordering, and Consensus Instability in Decentralized Exchanges’. ArXiv:1904.05234 [Cs], April. http://arxiv.org/abs/1904.05234.

Kumar, Randhir, and Rakesh Tripathi. 2021. ‘Scalable and Secure Access Control Policy for Healthcare System Using Blockchain and Enhanced Bell–LaPadula Model’. Journal of Ambient Intelligence and Humanized Computing 12 (2): 2321–38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12652-020-02346-8.

Natoli, Christopher, Jiangshan Yu, Vincent Gramoli, and Paulo Esteves-Verissimo. 2019. ‘Deconstructing Blockchains: A Comprehensive Survey on Consensus, Membership and Structure’. ArXiv:1908.08316 [Cs], August. http://arxiv.org/abs/1908.08316.

‘Sovrin’. n.d. Sovrin. Accessed 13 May 2021. https://sovrin.org/.

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Status of this document: work in progress
Last day modified: 2021-04-13