Optimization of a Consensus Protocol in Blockchain-IoT Convergence

Abstract

A consensus mechanism determines how partici-pants agree on a transaction or a state change in the distributed ledger technology (DLT) such as blockchain by receiving consent from majority of network participants before inclusion of a block to blockchain. The consensus mechanism is required in almost every blockchain application. Most contemporary blockchain consensus systems need massive processing capabilities, signif-icant energy consumption, and reliance on monetary stake. Because of these limitations, mainstream consensus approaches are unsuitable for low-resource applications such as IoT. As a result, this paper introduces a new consensus protocol known as “Delegated Proof of Accessibility” (DPoAC). The DPoAC protocol minimized the computational resource needs and energy usage demands of the existing proof-based consensus mechanisms, making it appropriate to use in applications with limited resources, such the Internet of Things. In addition, the lack of a financial stake in DPoAC makes it ideal for blockchain-IoT convergence.