A NODE TESTING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A BLOCKCHAIN SYSTEM

摘要

A method for a blockchain system is disclosed to assess the suitability or eligibility of a node to act as a confirming node (e.g. mining node or validating node). Three different main embodiments are described: 1) assessing the network bandwidth of a potential confirming node by sending a volume of data to be hashed and determining how long it takes between sending it and receiving the hashed response and also validating that the response matches an expected hashed response. A rolling (recursive) hash may be used to test the connection speed rather than the processing power of the potential confirming node. Potential nodes that meet a threshold requirement may be deemed as eligible to be selected as confirming nodes and a ranked subset may be selected; 2) the processing power of a potential confirming node may be assessed by sending a hash puzzle and seeing how long it takes for a valid solution to be found; and 3) receiving a plurality of confirmation blocks from respective plural confirming nodes to determine a common majority and for confirming nodes that provide a response that differs to the majority excluding them from acting as confirming nodes for a future specified period.