System and method for enforcing the structure and content of databases synchronized over a distributed ledger

Abstract

A method and system is presented for reaching consensus on adding data to and extending the structure or schema of databases synchronized across a distributed ledger or blockchain system, in which no central trusted authority is available, comprising sending an announcement message by a network connected device to a plurality of network connected devices over a network, said message proposing a database schema change or extension. If the announcement message and preceding data in the distributed ledger satisfy predetermined conditions, the plurality of network connected devices may include the data in the distributed ledger, and modify the schema of their databases in a corresponding manner. If data is submitted that requires a structural change to the database before the announcement message has been incorporated in the distributed ledger, the data is rejected by the network and is not included in the distributed ledger.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for reaching a consensus for modifying data in a database maintained and synchronized using a distributed ledger on a network comprising:
 extracting a schema from one or more data sources;   generating a data change request, comprising a proposed addition to or modification of data, complying with the schema extracted from the data sources;   transmitting the data change request to the network;   extracting the proposed addition to or modification of data from the data change request, and inserting it into a data block;   submitting the data block to the network; and   adding the data block to the distributed ledger if one or more predetermined criteria agreed upon by a plurality of participating nodes operating on the network are met.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data sources from which the schema for the database is extracted comprise one or more of:
 the distributed ledger,   a private computer server,   a public computer server,   a file distributed through email,   a file distributed on a removable data medium delivered through another distribution channel.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data block is not added to the distributed ledger if the one or more predetermined criteria are not met. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data change request is digitally signed using a private key of a public/private key pair associated with a submitter of the data change request. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more predetermined criteria comprise one or more of:
 compliance with the schema extracted from the distributed ledger,   verification of an identity of the submitter of the data change request,   authorization by a specific node operating on the network,   a result of a computation performed on a previous data contained within the distributed ledger,   a result of a computation performed on a data contained within the data block,   a result of a computation performed on a data available from a public computer server,   a result of a computation performed on a data available from a private computer server,   a relationship between a data field of the database and a public key of a public/private key pair,   a consensus between the plurality of participating nodes operating on the network.   
     
     
         6 . A plurality of network connected devices, each comprising: one or more processors and storage media comprising computer instructions, said plurality of network connected devices being connected via a network to each other, arranged such that when computer instructions are executed on the one or more processors of a one or more of the plurality of network connected devices, operations are caused for reaching a consensus among the plurality of network connected devices for adding data to or modifying data in a database maintained and synchronized using a distributed ledger comprising:
 extracting a schema from one or more data sources by a first of the plurality of network connected devices;   generating by the first of the plurality of network connected devices, a data addition or change request comprising a proposed addition to or modification of data complying with the schema extracted from the distributed ledger;   transmitting by the first of the plurality of network connected devices, the data addition or change request to the network;   extracting, by a second of the plurality of network connected devices, the proposed addition to or modification of data from the data addition or change request, and inserting it into a data block;   submitting, by the second of the plurality of network connected devices, the data block to the network; and   adding the data block to the distributed ledger by the plurality of network connected devices, if a one or more predetermined criteria agreed upon by the plurality of network connected devices are determined by the plurality of network connected devices to be met.   
     
     
         7 . The plurality of network connected devices of  claim 6 , wherein the data sources from which the schema for the database is extracted comprise one or more of:
 the distributed ledger,   a private computer server,   a public computer server,   a file distributed through email,   a file distributed on a removable data medium delivered through another distribution channel.   
     
     
         8 . The plurality of network connected devices of  claim 6 , wherein the data block is not added to the distributed ledger by the plurality of network connected devices if the one or more predetermined criteria are not met. 
     
     
         9 . The plurality of network connected devices of  claim 6 , wherein the data addition or change request is digitally signed by the first of the plurality of network connected devices using a private key of a public/private key pair. 
     
     
         10 . The plurality of network connected devices of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more predetermined criteria utilized by the plurality of network connected devices comprise one or more of:
 compliance with the database schema extracted from the distributed ledger,   verification of an identity of a submitter of the data addition or change request,   authorization by a specific node operating on the network,   a result of a computation performed on a previous data contained within the distributed ledger,   a result of a computation performed on a data contained within the block of data,   a result of a computation performed on a data available from a public computer server,   a result of a computation performed on a data available from a private computer server,   a relationship between a data field of the database and a public key of a public/private key pair, and   a consensus between the plurality of network connected devices.