Blockchain Papers

Liudmila Zavolokina, Pascal Mehrwald, Isabell M. Welpe, Helmut Krcmar

No abstract is available for this record.

Mohamad Kassem, Jennifer Lia, David Greenwood

Distributed ledger technology (DLT), commonly referred to as 'blockchain' and originally invented to create a peerto-peer digital currency, is rapidly attracting interest in other sectors. The aim in this paper is (1) to investigate the applications of DLT within the built environment, and the challenges and opportunities facing its adoption; and (2) develop a multi-dimensional emergent framework for DLT adoption within the construction sector.

Sina Rafati Niya, Florian Schüpfer, Thomas Bocek, Burkhard Stiller

Abstract This work introduces the design and implementation of an Android-based Peer-to-peer Purchase and Rental Application termed PuRSCA, which leverages Smart Contracts (SC) and the Ethereum public blockchain (BC). As a Device-to-device (D2D) communication protocol, WiFi-Direct is chosen to enable the P2P data transmission between two parties. This work results in a cost-efficient, secure, SC-based, P2P, and Decentralized application (Dapp). Evaluations on performance of this Dapp is specified in terms of its D2D deployment, transaction costs, scalability, security, and privacy.

Xiaohong Huang, Cheng Xu, Pengfei Wang, Hongzhe Liu

The Internet of Energy (IoE) provides an effective networking technology for distributed green energy, which allows the connection of energy anywhere at any time. As an important part of the IoE, electric vehicles (EVs), and charging pile management are of great significance to the development of the IoE industry. Previous work has mainly focused on network performance optimization for its management, and few studies have considered the security of the management between EVs and charging piles. Therefore, this paper proposes a decentralized security model based on the lightning network and smart contract in the blockchain ecosystem; this proposed model is called the lightning network and smart contract (LNSC). The overall model involves registration, scheduling, authentication, and charging phases. The new proposed security model can be easily integrated with current scheduling mechanisms to enhance the security of trading between EVs and charging piles. Experimental results according to a realistic infrastructure are presented in this paper. These experimental results demonstrate that our scheme can effectively enhance vehicle security. Different performances of LNSC-based scheduling strategies are also presented.

Seoyoung Kim, Atulya Sarin

No abstract is available for this record.

Pietro Ferraro, Christopher King, Robert Shorten

This paper describes how Distributed Ledger Technologies can be used to design a class of cyber-physical systems, as well as to enforce social contracts and to orchestrate the behaviour of agents trying to access a shared resource. The first part of the paper analyses the advantages and disadvantages of using Distributed Ledger Technologies architectures to implement certain control systems in an Internet of Things (IoT) setting, and then focuses on a specific type of DLT based on a Directed Acyclic Graph. In this setting we propose a set of delay differential equations to describe the dynamical behaviour of the Tangle, an IoT-inspired Directed Acyclic Graph designed for the cryptocurrency IOTA. The second part proposes an application of Distributed Ledger Technologies as a mechanism for dynamic deposit pricing, wherein the deposit of digital currency is used to orchestrate access to a network of shared resources. The pricing signal is used as a mechanism to enforce the desired level of compliance according to a predetermined set of rules. After presenting an illustrative example, we analyze the control system and provide sufficient conditions for the stability of the network.

Michel Rauchs, Andrew Glidden, Brian Gordon, Gina Pieters · 8 authors

The DLT ecosystem is plagued with the use of incomplete and inconsistent definitions and a lack of standardised terminology, creating a needlessly complicated landscape for everyone from experienced policymakers and developers to individuals venturing into the field for the first time. This study sets out to contribute to international discussions to create a shared, common language around DLT systems to clarify terminology and concepts.

Ning Zhang, Shan Zhong, Tian Li

Personal privacy protection issues has gradually caused widespread concernin society which will lead to economic and reputation losses, hinder networkand E-commerce innovation or some other consequences if not handled properly. Inthis paper, we make use of the de-centralization, permanent and audibility of theblockchain to propose a blockchain-based personal privacy protection mechanism,which uses Online taxi-hailing as the application scenario. We not only provide thedetails of the blockchain custom transaction domain used by the scene, but alsoexpound the information exchanging and blockchain auditing between passengers,Online taxi-hailing platform and drivers in Online taxi-hailing scene, providing acase model for the blockchain solution to personal privacy protection and a technicalmechanism solution for further study of personal privacy protection issues.

Junyeon Hwang, Myeong-in Choi, Tacklim Lee, Seonki Jeon · 7 authors

Recently, various business models collect and store data generated from events using the Internet and various sensors and use them effectively. It is changing smartly into a convenient and safe new business model. In this paper, we present directions through experiments to understand and develop evolving types of business models by collecting data using various sensors in a test bed environment. We implement and experiment with technologies using Bigdata in addition to IoT(Internet of Things) technology. Renewable energy projects are attracting attention due to environmental issues such as global warming. In this paper, we introduce energy prosumer service model applying blockchain technology. This allows various energy sources to be connected to various users and producers. Also, we try to improve energy efficiency by analyzing energy pattern of users. We propose a transaction model that can collect, utilize, and process data more efficiently by combining the above technologies.

Premkumar Chithaluru, Kulvinder Singh, Manish Sharma

As the technologies are evolving day by day, they are able to rejuvenate any sector either individually or by incorporating other technologies. There are many prominent sectors in the market such as healthcare, education, entertainment, business, information technology, retail, etc. Every sector has its own set of profits and consequences, but apart from all, the banking or finance sector is the only sector that provides dynamicity to all other sectors and helps them to generate maximum revenue from their principal investment. In this chapter, the authors are focusing on the traditional and modern ways of banking, currencies such as cryptocurrency like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and how the modern currency will change the transaction procedure in the global banking system, creating an amalgamation of such currency with a current transaction system with the role of technology such as Blockchain in the betterment of the global banking system making the system fully decentralized, distributed, transparent, fast, immutable, and efficient.

Xueqin Liang, Zheng Yan

A number of information and resource sharing systems arise and become popular with the rapid development of communication technologies and mobile smart devices. The interactions between humans and machines are intense and their synergistic reactions have attracted special attention for the reason of forming so called Human–Machine Networks (HMN). HMNs refer to these networks where humans and machines work together to provide synergistic effects on their payoffs. Game theory, which can capture the interactions among players dexterously, has been widely used in solving various problems in HMN systems from the view of economics. In this paper, we extensively review the literature about game theoretical methods in HMNs, in particular focusing on its typical systems such as crowdsourcing, an elemental HMN and Internet of Things (IoT), a hybrid HMN, as well as Bitcoin. We propose a series of requirements to evaluate existing work. For reviewing and analyzing each system, we specify application purposes, players, strategies, game models and equilibria based on our proposed requirements. In the sequel, we identify a number of common and distinct open issues in HMNs and point out future research directions.

Ali Shoker

Cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies are recently gaining wide adoption since the introduction of Bitcoin, being distributed, authority-free, and secure. Proof of Work (PoW) is at the heart of blockchain's security, asset generation, and maintenance. Although simple and secure, a hash-based PoW like Bitcoin's puzzle is often referred to as “useless”, and the used intensive computations are considered “waste” of energy. A myriad of Proof of “something” alternatives have been proposed to mitigate energy consumption; however, they either introduced new security threats and limitations, or the “work” remained far from being really “useful”. In this work, we introduce Proof of eXercise (PoX): a sustainable alternative to PoW where an eXercise is a real world matrix-based scientific computation problem. We provide a novel study of the properties of Bitcoin's PoW, the challenges of a more “rational” solution as PoX, and we suggest a comprehensive approach for PoX.

Caroline Jaffe, Cristina Mata, Sepandar Kamvar

As cities become increasingly dense, they must turn to novel technologies and frameworks to address the mobility challenges that will arise. 50% of trips in the U.S. are less than 3 miles, and could be replaced by a more sustainable and space-efficient mode of transportation, such as bicycling, if effective policies and incentives were implemented.

Henrique Rocha, Sté́phane Ducasse, Marcus Denker, Jason Lecerf

Solidity is a language used to implement smart contracts on a blockchain platform. Since its initial conception in 2014, Solidity has evolved into one of the major languages for the Ethereum platform as well as other blockchain technologies. Due to its popularity, there are many tools specifically designed to handle smart contracts written in Solidity. However, there is a lack of tools for Pharo to handle Solidity contracts. Therefore, we implemented a parser using SmaCC to serve as a base for further developing Solidity support in Pharo. In this paper, we describe the parser creation, the irregularities we found in the Solidity grammar specification, and common practices on how to adapt the grammar to an LR type parser. Our experiences with parsing the Solidity language using SmaCC may help other developers trying to convert similar grammars.

Fabian Knirsch, Andreas Unterweger, Dominik Engel

Electric vehicles are gaining widespread adoption and are a key component in the establishment of the smart grid. Beside the increasing number of electric vehicles, a dense and widespread charging infrastructure will be required. This offers the opportunity for a broad range of different energy providers and charging station operators, both of which can offer energy at different prices depending on demand and supply. While customers benefit from a liberalized market and a wide selection of tariff options, such dynamic pricing use cases are subject to privacy issues and allow to detect the customer’s position and to track vehicles for, e.g., targeted advertisements. In this paper we present a reliable, automated and privacy-preserving selection of charging stations based on pricing and the distance to the electric vehicle. The protocol builds on a blockchain where electric vehicles signal their demand and charging stations send bids similar to an auction. The electric vehicle owner then decides on a particular charging station based on the supply-side offers it receives. This paper shows that the use of blockchains increases the reliability and the transparency of this approach while preserving the privacy of the electric vehicle owners.

Beth Kewell, Richard Adams, Glenn Parry

Abstract The blockchain innovation appears to represent viable catalysts for achieving global sustainable development targets. Projects and initiatives seeking to extend the reach of distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) seem mostly intended for the benefit of for‐profit businesses, governments, and consumers. DLT projects devised for the public good could aim, in theory, to fulfill the United Nation’s current sustainable development goals. Blockchain technology is being applied in ways that could transform this ambition for good into a practical reality.

Rashid Mehmood, Royston Meriton, Gary Graham, Patrick Hennelly · 5 authors

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to advance knowledge of the transformative potential of big data on city-based transport models. The central question guiding this paper is: how could big data transform smart city transport operations? In answering this question the authors present initial results from a Markov study. However the authors also suggest caution in the transformation potential of big data and highlight the risks of city and organizational adoption. A theoretical framework is presented together with an associated scenario which guides the development of a Markov model. Design/methodology/approach A model with several scenarios is developed to explore a theoretical framework focussed on matching the transport demands (of people and freight mobility) with city transport service provision using big data. This model was designed to illustrate how sharing transport load (and capacity) in a smart city can improve efficiencies in meeting demand for city services. Findings This modelling study is an initial preliminary stage of the investigation in how big data could be used to redefine and enable new operational models. The study provides new understanding about load sharing and optimization in a smart city context. Basically the authors demonstrate how big data could be used to improve transport efficiency and lower externalities in a smart city. Further how improvement could take place by having a car free city environment, autonomous vehicles and shared resource capacity among providers. Research limitations/implications The research relied on a Markov model and the numerical solution of its steady state probabilities vector to illustrate the transformation of transport operations management (OM) in the future city context. More in depth analysis and more discrete modelling are clearly needed to assist in the implementation of big data initiatives and facilitate new innovations in OM. The work complements and extends that of Setia and Patel (2013), who theoretically link together information system design to operation absorptive capacity capabilities. Practical implications The study implies that transport operations would actually need to be re-organized so as to deal with lowering CO 2 footprint. The logistic aspects could be seen as a move from individual firms optimizing their own transportation supply to a shared collaborative load and resourced system. Such ideas are radical changes driven by, or leading to more decentralized rather than having centralized transport solutions (Caplice, 2013). Social implications The growth of cities and urban areas in the twenty-first century has put more pressure on resources and conditions of urban life. This paper is an initial first step in building theory, knowledge and critical understanding of the social implications being posed by the growth in cities and the role that big data and smart cities could play in developing a resilient and sustainable transport city system. Originality/value Despite the importance of OM to big data implementation, for both practitioners and researchers, we have yet to see a systematic analysis of its implementation and its absorptive capacity contribution to building capabilities, at either city system or organizational levels. As such the Markov model makes a preliminary contribution to the literature integrating big data capabilities with OM capabilities and the resulting improvements in system absorptive capacity.

Thorsten V. Koeppl, Jeremy Kronick

Blockchain technology has the potential to transform dramatically how a modern economy deals with maintaining and updating records. This innovation has already created lots of turbulence in financial markets and beyond. It will be a challenge to let markets figure out how to best use this technology while ensuring consumer safety and efficiency. Our goal in this paper is to unveil the potential of blockchain technology and guide regulators in how to approach the challenges this technology entails. The most well-known examples of blockchains are found in the area of payments systems and, more generally, in financial markets. It is thus understandable that the financial industry is leading the charge to unearth the potential of this technology in order to find cost efficiencies, but also to recapture above normal profits. The potential application of this technology, however, reaches much further than merely being a currency like bitcoin or a record-keeping system. Early applications of this technology include smart contracts and attempts by governments to build universal online identification systems. Blockchain technology also introduces new concepts such as cryptographic communication protocols and distributed data storage that can increase the safety of electronic networks and offer potential cost efficiency. We do not expect distributed ledgers to completely supplant traditional intermediaries, especially in areas where these intermediaries are of systemic importance or provide services that require a high degree of ad hoc coordination. Still, many elements of this new technology offer a unique opportunity for such intermediaries to modernize their infrastructures and offer their clients safer and cheaper systems. It is not clear, however, how to realize such benefits in a way that makes sure they are passed on to the economy as a whole. This leads us to identify three major challenges and priorities for policymakers and regulators arising from blockchain technology: 1. Design a principle-based regulation regime that achieves high safety standards, legal certainty and a stable environment for transactions based on distributed ledger technology; 2. Ensure that this technology leads to appropriate end-user cost efficiencies rather than simply a redistribution of above-normal profits among intermediaries; and 3. Determine areas where government involvement is advisable, be it in the role of facilitator for a private or public distributed ledger, or as a direct central node that applies elements of the technology but retains the monopoly of managing the ledger entries.

Emilien Bai, Kåre Synnes

This paper presents the design and implementation of a reward system for collaborative care of elderly based on distributed ledger technologies. The work is motivated by the demographic change, where an aging population consequently increases the need for care. This causes a great tension in our society, as care resources become increasingly constrained, both regarding costs and availability of care staff. Much of the daily care of the elderly is today done by family members (spouses, children) and friends, often on a voluntarily basis, which adds to the tension. The core idea of this work is to help broaden the involvement of people in caring for our elderly, enabled by a system for collaborative care. The proposed system benefits from recent advances in distributed ledger technologies, which similarly to digital currencies, are build on the ability for mutual agreements between people who do not know each other. The system also benefits from recent gamification techniques to motivate people to collaborate on a larger scale through performing simple daily tasks. The system builds on rewards automatically given when these smart contracts are fulfilled, a gamification technique that is believed to maintain motivation of the volunteers. In this paper, we thus describe a reward system designed to connect elderly and volunteers by mutual agreements implemented as smart contracts.

Adrian Jackson, Ashley Lloyd, Justin Macinante, Markus HHwener

No abstract is available for this record.

Kiyotaka Shimizu, Eitaro Aiyoshi, Tetsuo Ueno

We are concerned with a class of organizations composed of a coordinating central system and plural semi-autonomous subsystems, such that each of them has a decision-making unit. Such a problem is regarded as that of a decentralized two-level optimization. The basic principle of planning for this organization is that the central system allocates resources so as to optimize its own objective, while the subsystems optimize their own objectives using the given resources.Within this framework of decision making, we consider a transportation problem in which N transport agents transport their own commodity. Each transport agent n, n=1, …, N, finds optimal flow patterns of the associated commodity n so that the transportation cost is minimized based on its own objective function under the arc capacity restriction imposed by the central agent. The coordinating central agent governs the transport agents through the way of allocating the arc capacity so that the optimality of whole network system is achieved. Here, the lower level problem is composed of a set of single commodity minimum cost flow problems of the transport agents, each of which can be easily solved separately by the subsystem.The decentralized optimization problem is solved in principle by a parametric approach. A feasible direction algorithm using directional derivative and application of a constraint simplex method are proposed to solve the formulated network flow problem.