Blockchain Architecture: Nodes, Transactions, and Mining

This presentation provides a comprehensive overview of blockchain architecture. It begins by introducing the core concepts, including the definition of a blockchain as a transparent ledger of transactions distributed across a network of nodes. The presentation then delves into the key components of blockchain architecture, such as nodes, transactions, blocks, chains, and miners, contrasting it with traditional database architecture. It highlights the importance of consensus mechanisms in maintaining data integrity and security. The presentation further discusses the various purposes of blockchain technology, including cost efficiency, historical data maintenance, and data integrity. Finally, it explores the different types of blockchain architectures: public, consortium, and private, providing examples and differentiating their characteristics. The presentation concludes with a list of references used in the research.

BLOCK CHAIN
The block chain architecture

Topics
The topic discussed in this presentation with reference to the block chain
architecture include:
 Nodes within the P2P connection
 The block chain properties
 The ledger transactions
 Mining (the validation procedures)
 Consensus on the topology of the chains
 Example of the actual work

Introduction
As the name suggest, a block is continuous integrated information in the
form of a chain. This chain has transparency such that all the user in the
network can vies the information. Some may refer to the block chain as a
ledger of transaction containing a block of information(database).
The information can then be distributed to all the nodes within the P2P
connection. The block chain is dominant in financial transactions. The use
in cryptocurrency has been extended to use in keeping records such as
contracts and notaries.

Block chain core components
Some of the components compromised in the block chain architecture
include:
Node- the computer devices with in a network
Transaction- these are the building blocks of the system
Block- a data structure used to data or information storage
Chain- interconnected block in a specific order.
Miners- this is a specialized node in the network that verifies the blocks

Block chain vs database architecture
The database architecture is made up of a single server where all the nodes
are connected to each. The nodes do not have the data but can access it.
on the other hand, the block chain architecture the distributed network
give all the nodes the privilege of maintaining, overseeing and updating
the information.
As compared to the database architecture, the block chain architecture
relies on a distributed leger that is public to the nodes in the P2P
connection.

Cont
In order to ensure that the information save in the block chain cannot be
altered by a single node, all the node in the network have to be in
consensus. the block chain information include transaction that can be
stored in a .txt format.

Data structures in block chain
There are two major data structure used in the block chain architecture,
they include:
Pointer- in database, a pointer is a variable that has the information on the
location of another variable.
Linked list- this is an order consisting of block of information. This
information involves transactions and other links to other blocks of
information.

Purpose of block
The following are the various purposes of using block chain in an
organization :
Cost efficiency- the amount of financial resources used in maintaining
databases is high. Block chain eliminates centralized databases.
Historical data maintenance- the block chain save on data of the preceding
transactions. This maintains historical information.
Data integrity and security- block chain supports transparency and
consensus before data is updates. This ensure data integrity and security.

Types of block chain architectures
There are three types of block chain architectures. This include:
1. Public block chain architecture
2. Consortium block chain architecture
3. Private block chain architecture

Public block chain architecture
As the name suggests, the public block chain is available and can be accessed by
anyone. There are no authorizations protocols to distinguish the type of user.
A good example of this is the use of cryptocurrency. Name :
 Bit coin
 Ethereum
 Lite coin block chain
The decentralized information makes it very difficult if not impossible to tamper.

Consortium block chain architecture
The Consortium block chain architecture involves several companies of
states that have signed a code of conduct governing how the are supposed
to behave/ operate.
The information I this structure is partially centralized. The partial
centralization of the information makes it possible to tamper the
information.

Private block chain architecture
As compared to the consortium and public block chain architecture, the
system can either be controlled by a single person or a selected few
persons. The information can be updated or accessed on by the authorized
users or a user who has been given permission.
The reading permit can either be public depending on the company’s
policies. The centralized information makes it more efficient to use in
organizations since it consumes less resources.

References
McCoy, K., Tse, C. and Abdel-Rahaman, H., Monegraph Inc, 2019. Rights
transfers using block chain transactions. U.S. Patent 10,380,702.
Smith, S.B., 2015. Method and system to use a block chain infrastructure and
Smart Contracts to monetize data transactions involving changes to data
included into a data supply chain. U.S. Patent Application 14/852,610.
Leng, K., Bi, Y., Jing, L., Fu, H.C. and Van Nieuwenhuyse, I., 2018. Research on
agricultural supply chain system with double chain architecture based on
blockchain technology. Future Generation Computer Systems, 86, pp.641-649.
Sharma, P.K. and Park, J.H., 2018. Blockchain based hybrid network architecture
for the smart city. Future Generation Computer Systems, 86, pp.650-655.
Milner, S.T., 1994. Chain architecture and asymmetry in copolymer
microphases. Macromolecules, 27(8), pp.2333-2335.