Highly Secure Residents Life Event Management System Based on Blockchain by Hyperledger Fabric ()
1. Introduction
The principal subject of our research is to design and implement highly secure and reliable data management system under poor ICT (Information and Communication Technology) environment.
Maintaining trusted data about people, organizations, properties, and activities is an essential in all organizations such as government. Local, states, and national authorities are responsible for keeping track of details such as birth and death dates, marital status, business licenses, property transactions, and illegal activity of people. Even in advanced countries, managing and utilizing these data properly are difficult. Some documents are only available on paper, and residents must often visit appropriate official sections to update his/her data.
Traditional data protection solutions such as passwords, firewalls, and data encryption are designed to keep hackers out of organizations and data stores. But how can we keep our data, especially most valuable assets (contracts, property titles, account statements, and so on) from being altered or even removed by people who can access our systems illegally? Especially residents’ life event records are one of the most fundamental data in any country. Some organizations such as governments in developing countries are facing the difficulty of data management problem. They don’t have enough communication infrastructures such as high-speed data communication lines. Data exchange system cannot work properly with poor communication infrastructure. Some advanced technologies exist to implement a highly secure and reliable system for data management. But under relatively poor ICT environment, implementing such advanced data management system requires new approach for realization.
In order to tackle these problems, we start our research about highly secure and reliable data management system under poor ICT environment. Adopted technologies are blockchain and web-based interface. Even in developing countries, wireless communication networks such as cell-phone and smartphones are widely used due to cheap implementation cost. Therefore, using web-based interface on smartphones enables people to access data management system easily. In a previous work [1], we reported the implementation of the web-based RLEMS with blockchain framework. In previous system, we used the MultiChain [2] as a platform to implement blockchain function. MultiChain is easy-to-use and light-weight framework for implementing blockchain system. However, MultiChain mainly supports private blockchain network and this kind of blockchain network is not always suitable for building nation-level data management system. Therefore, we decided to select another framework to implement the nation-level RLEMS. Based on the several consideration, we have selected Hyperledger Fabric [3] as a platform of revised system.
This article consists as follows: Section 2 describes the basic understanding of blockchain, Section 3 is about brief introduction of Hyperledger Fabric which we adopted in the revised system. In Section 4 we describe the proposed system. In Section 5, we summarize this article.
2. Basics of Blockchain
2.1. Basic Concept
Roughly speaking, blockchain is a database which contains various kinds of data such as text, images, motion pictures and others. Any type of data can be stored in blockchain. However, there are several essential differences between conventional database and blockchain. From a theoretical perspective, a blockchain is regarded an append-only, distributed time-stamped data structure. Distributed peer-to-peer networks are made possible using blockchains, in which non-trusting users may communicate with one other, which is verified without the requirement for a trusted authority. Blockchain is distinct from standard relational and new “Not only SQL” (NoSQL) databases. In conventional databases, we can execute so-called CRUD, where CRUD means “Create, Read, Update, and Delete.” However, blockchain simply allows for “Create” and “Read.” Users may read them, but they will never change or remove anything once created. All transactions and activities on the blockchain are only added and are recorded on the database with exact time stamps.
Figure 1 is a conceptual illustration of blockchain system.
The fundamental concept of blockchain is relatively simple; it is a linked list-based database. As shown in Figure 1, there are several blocks in one blockchain. Each block contains some information such as
• Hash value of previous block,
• Data to be stored in the current block.
And
• Specific value named nonce.
Among them, only nonce is computable, which must hold the specific condition of the hash value of each block. Once block is connected to the specific blockchain, all data are unchangeable. Hash value of each block is computed using all data in the block. When users want to connect one block to existing blockchain, hash value of current block is computed. As hash value of current block is computed using all stored data in the block, once some part of data is
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Figure 1. Conceptual illustration of blockchain.
modified, hash function will generate completely difference hash value and therefore it is very easy to find the falsification of data. In order to generate each block, the user must select appropriate value of nonce in each block and the adjustment of nonce requires huge amount of computing power. Therefore, falsification is virtually impossible. This is the main reason why blockchain provides highly secure and reliable data management. And blockchain has an attractive function which is very different from the traditional databases. Blockchain system is constructed from several nodes and every node stores all blockchain. In other words, data and its copies are stored in all nodes. This situation is often called as “Distributed Ledger” or DL. Therefore, even some accidents such as power failure or cracker’s attack destroy the database of one node in the network, all data will be recovered by using the data stored in the other nodes. This is why blockchain has high robust nature.
2.2. How Blockchain Works
When a user wants to add data in the blockchain, user firstly packs several data fragments into one data package. For example, in case of Bitcoin, each transaction such as transferring money from one user to another is a data fragment. Certain amount of basic data fragments, say 20 fragments, will be packed into one package. After the finish of constructing one package, block construction will start. Each block contains several data such as data package, nonce and hash value of previous block. Each block must be connected to existing blockchain. To connect new block to exiting blockchain, hash value of each block must satisfy the specific condition. For example, if hash value is represented by 256 bits (32 bytes), hash value of first 64 bits (8 bytes) must be 0. To satisfy the condition, user must compute specific nonce value. To get such hash value, users will set appropriate nonce value. However, as hash function generates virtually random value, user must repeat computing hash value by assigning specific value to nonce for huge amount of times. It requires millions of computing time and power. Once a specific value of nonce which satisfies the condition of hash value is found, newly created block will be connected to existing blockchain. The reason why blockchain has highly secure and reliability is the amount of computing time. As mentioned above, to connect one block to blockchain, user must compute appropriate nonce value. For example, let n be the length of blockchain (the number of blocks in the blockchain), and the attacker modified the data in k-th block. When data in k-th block is falsified by someone, hash value of k-th block will change drastically. Therefore, the connection of blocks will be broken. If malicious attacker tries to connect modified block to blockchain, he/she has to find new nonce value which satisfies the condition of hash value. The change of hash value of k-th block affects following all (n − k + 1) blocks; attacker must compute (n − k + 1) nonce value again to connect all blocks in the blockchain and this re-computation requires quite a huge amount of computation. Therefore, falsification of blockchain is virtually impossible. This is why the blockchain system provides highly secure and reliable data.
2.3. Types of Blockchain
There are mainly three types of blockchains: public, private, and consortium blockchain. The features of each type can be summarized as shown below.
1) Public Blockchain: This type of blockchain is opened to public and anyone can participate as a node in the network. The users may or may not be rewarded for their participation. They are not owned by anyone and are publicly open for anyone to participate in. The best example of public blockchain is Bitcoin. Whenever a user transfers a transaction, it is reflected on everyone’s copy of the block. Bitcoin uses a public blockchain.
2) Private Blockchain: As the name implies, private blockchain is private and is opened only to a consortium or group of individuals or organizations that have decided to share the ledger among themselves. Only the owner makes any changes to it because he has a right. Federated blockchains are faster (high scalability) and provide more transaction privacy.
3) Consortium Blockchain: Consortium blockchain is basically a hybrid of public and private blockchains. There are federated blockchains which are operated under the leadership of a group. In a group, there are two or more administrative nodes. Opposite to public blockchains, no one without the approval by administrative nodes is allowed to participate in the process of verifying transactions. For example, in the banking sector, this type of blockchains is mostly used.
Additional functionality may be offered to blockchains using the computer interface. From a practical perspective, a blockchain keeps a history of all transactions, which, for example, enables the computation of each user’s balance. These are complicated states, which, e.g., transition from one to another once specified requirements are satisfied.
Network-controlled public, private, and federated blockchains all create three different categories based on their network rights. Anyone may join a public blockchain as a new user or node miner. In private blockchains, it is often preferable to utilize a whitelist of approved individuals with specified attributes and rights. A federated blockchain is a blend of public and private blockchain technologies with a collection of nodes that validate transaction processes instead of a single organization. We also examine issues such as the time it takes to approve a transaction, as well as security elements such as anonymity.
2.4. Sample Practical Application of Blockchain
Blockchain and digital ledger has been used to protect trusted records by financial institutions. It has been used, too, in the healthcare system to share and manage data. Healthcare data are highly sensitive, there is a need to protect it from an illegal access. Estonia, for example, uses a technology called Keyless Signature Infrastructure (KSI) [4] to keep all government data safe from any illegal access. In KSI, the concept of hash value plays an essential role in protecting data in Information System. KSI uses hash values, which are numeric values that uniquely reflect large quantities of data. The hash values are spread through a private network of government computers and stored in a blockchain [5]. In the work the authors implemented a decentralized record management system to handle electronic health records using blockchain technology [6]. Some authors recommended the use of smart contracts to handle clinical trial authorization information on a permissioned Ethereum blockchain and a private IPFS network to store the data structure [7].
3. Short Introduction to Hyperledger Fabric
3.1. Overall of Hyperledger Fabric
Hyperledger Fabric is an open source enterprise-grade blockchain platform. By using Hyperledger Fabric, users can implement distributed ledger technology (DLT). Hyperledger fabric can be used to develop from small private-level system to large enterprise-level system. It is developed by Linux Foundation. Now Linux Foundation manages the development and release of it. Hyperledge Fabric support mainly Consortium and Private blockchain. It can be used for general-purpose system development.
There are some features of the Hyperledger Fabric that distinguish it from other blockchain frameworks. This is what we need to know to keep things simple. Hyperledger Fabric is an approved blockchain. It is not intended to be accessible to the world, but as many individuals as you like can be added. It promotes smart contracts, much as Ethereum does. In Hyperledger Fabric, smart contract is called chaincode (the specific term for smart contract code from Hyperledger Fabric). The smart contracts of Hyperledger Fabric are written in Go language, Java and JavaScript. It is an approved blockchain. It is not intended to be accessible to the world, but as many individuals as you like can be added. It promotes smart contracts, much as Ethereum does.
There is a concept of “channels” in Hyperledger Fabric, where parties that are part of a blockchain may privately establish separate transactions and then send the final state to the main blockchain to be registered. In other blockchains, this is not unlike state networks, but there is an extra layer of privacy. All respondents have recognized identities, preserved by what Hyperledger Fabric calls “Membership Service Providers” (MSP). If you authorize a group of 10 hospitals to participate in your blockchain, the network will be aware of each of the 10 hospitals. This is Hyperledger Fabric’s main feature that makes it work well with enterprise solutions.
To reach consensus, Hyperledger Fabric does not use traditional Proof of Work (PoW) or Proof of Stake (PoS) processes. Instead, it uses a sequence of checked transactions, since it is highly approved. Chaincode can only be used to approve a transaction if it is also checked by two parties who execute a transaction, each signing it and then peers who take the transaction. In short, what you need to think about for now is that for them to get included in the ledger, multiple checked participants need to sign transactions. This is a perfect match for blockchains focused on companies that don’t have many participants. There is a natural barrier to malicious activity since the participants are familiar to each other. Here, read more. This is a basic flow diagram for transactions. For now, you do not need to comprehend all the specifics. Figure 2 shows the conceptual structure of Hyperledger Fabric blockchain network.
In this figure, the same color components correspond to each organization. There are several basic components in Hyperledger Fabric:
• Peer: Each peer contains chaincode and DB. Chaincode describes the smart-contract program.
• Chaincode: Chaincode is a kind of application program which implements the smart contract.
• Orderer: Orderer controls the order of transaction on the network.
• CA: CA stands for “Certificate Authority”. This component gives the certificate of each transaction.
• Client App: This is an application program of each organization which uses the blockchain network.
Note that the difference of “chaincode” and “client app” is that chaincode describes the program to implement the smart contract which maintains the transaction logic. By using chaincode, each transaction must be certificated by the consensus of all peers. No certificated transaction will be added to DB. On the other hand, “client app” is an end-user application which uses the data in the blockchain database. This app is almost similar to the usual database application program. More details should be referred to [3] or other resources.
3.2. Hyperledger Fabric Workflow
Hyperledger fabric works as following order:
1) Create transaction proposal: The client application in the peer creates a proposal of transaction. This proposal is submitted to blockchain network.
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Figure 2. Conceptual structure of hyperledger fabric.
2) Consensus of transaction: After submitting the proposal of transaction to blockchain network, each peer checks if this transaction is valid or not by using chaincode. The results of all peers’ chaincode are returned to the client.
3) Submission to orderer: After being approved by all peers, the proposal of transaction is sent to the orderer which orders the transaction into a block within the database.
4) Commitment of transaction: After finishing the ordering by orderer, the transaction will be sent to all peers to add the ledger.
Figure 3 is an illustrated explanation of Hyperledger Fabric workflow. As Hyperledger Fabric clearly separates the consensus algorithm and end-user application, it enables flexible system configuration.
3.3. Installing Hyperledger Fabric
Hyperledger Fabric can be installed on many kinds of machines. Support OS includes Linux, Windows, and macOS. Instruction steps are described many support sites such as [8]. After following few instructions, the implementor has nothing further to do. Some hardware and software requirements must be fulfilled to successfully install Hyperledger Fabric. Requirements are shown as follow:
• OS: Ubuntu 14.04/16.04LTS (both 64-bit), or macos 10.12 or greater version
• Software tools:
cURL: the latest version
git: the latest version
Docker engine: version 17.06.2-ce or greater
Docker-compose: version 1.14 or greater
Go language: version 1.13.x
Node: version 8.9 or later. Note that version 9 is not supported, and version 10 is supported from 10.15.30
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Figure 3. Illustration of hyperledger fabric workflow.
npm: version 5.x
Python: 2.7.x (3.x.x is not appropriate)
Install steps of Hyperledger Fabric on the Linux machine is as follow:
1) Install curl and the golang:
• sudo apt-get install curl
• sudo apt-get install golang
The package golang installs the Go distribution to /usr/local/go. The package should put the /usr/local/go/bin directory in your PATH environment variable. You may need to restart any open Terminal sessions for the change to take effect.
• export GOPATH=$HOME/go
• export PATH=$PATH:$GOPATH/bin
2) Install node.js, npm and Python:
• sudo apt get install nodejs
• sudo apt get install npm
• sudo apt get install python
3) Install Samples, Binary and docker images:
• curl -sSL https://bit.ly/2ysbOFE | bash -s
• curl sSL https://bit.ly/2ysbOFE | bash -s - fabric_version fabric-ca_version thirdparty_version
• curl sSL https://bit.ly/2ysbOFE | bash -s - 2.0.1 1.4.6 0.4.18
4) Export binary path:
• Go to FabricSamples directory
• Go to bin directory
• Add this path to $PATH variable in ~/.bash_profile
• Export PATH:$PATH:/Users/< your user name >/fabric-sampple_2.0/fabric-samples/bin
3.4. Invoking and Connecting Network with Hyperledger Fabric
In Hyperledger Fabric, blockchain is implemented as a virtual network of several nodes. A blockchain network offers a variety of infrastructure services to various applications, such as accounting and contracts. Primarily, smart contracts (chaincode) are used to record transactions on every peer node’s ledger. End users may utilize either client applications or the blockchain network itself as clients. After installation, we start by implementing the first network which will have the structure shown in Figure 4.
There is just one node in Orderer at the level of nodes. In Org1 and Org2, each organization has two peers. Peers Peer0 and Peer1 are each known as peer. There are thus just five nodes in the First Network. When installed locally, certain components inside First Network are implemented as containers. Docker images are produced from Hyperledger Fabric’s Docker images. In the localhost, we initially have five containers running. Typically, a Docker Compose-based container configuration is established using a suitable Docker Compose YAML
file. When we start working on the chaincode, there are more containers running.
In order to use blockchain network, the user must create the “channel”. The channel is created such that each new channel starts with block 0. The Orderer creation has finished, and block 0 has been formed. Block 0 is created as a file called mychannel.block after the execution of create-artifacts.sh command shown in Figure 5.
With the mychannel.block, the peers join the channel. The command peer channel join foin for each peer joining the channel is shown in Figure 6.
Next step is anchoring peers. Anchoring means the allocation of “anchor” to each organization. Anchor is an access points between different organizations in blockchain network. Hyperledger Fabric provides shell script to allocate anchor. Figure 7 is an execution result of shell-script.
The final step is an activation of network. After restarting machine, Hyperledger Fabric automatically awakes the network shown in Figure 8.
After installing Hyperledger Fabric platform, it is necessary to activate network and connect the external Java web application. To make this connection, we will use the Hyperledger Fabric Gateway SDK [9] which allows applications to interact with a Hyperledger Fabric blockchain network. Figure 9 is the complete code sample from the official website. Figure 9 is a part of sample code written in Java.
By executing this sample code, you can verify whether your installation is succeeded or not.
4. Design and Implementation of Revised RLEMS with PrimeFaces and MySQL
4.1. Overview
To launch our prototype system as a web application, we had to try to build it. We used Hyperledger Fabric blockchain, MySQL database system, and Java web framework PrimeFaces to develop our RLEMS as a web application. Figure 10
represents the overall structure of revised system. The structure of revised system is almost same as previous version.
Overall structure of this system is almost same as previous system. In a previous system, we used MultiChain as a framework of blockchain. In this new system, we used Hyperledger Fabric as a framework of blockchain. MySQL database system, and Java web framework PrimeFaces [10] to develop our RLEMS as a web application. In a previous system, we also used the PrimeFaces framework to implement web service interface. Current system also uses the same framework to enable the user interface implementation without changing it. Furthermore, thanks to the adoption of same DBMS and web framework, the number of new codes decreased. We only need to implement blockchain platform related software and some interface between web framework and Hyperledger Fabric.
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Figure 9. Sample code of connecting Hyperledger Fabric to application.
By using MySQL and blockchain technology, the data will transmit and receive from and to the user interface. We have our application, database, and blockchain platform all together in one system. The Java web framework is often used to do such tasks as inserting, updating, and deleting data on the blockchain. Data that must be sent to the blockchain technology and MySQL database may be sent using the Hyperledger Fabric framework’s module. The data is encrypted and hashed to protect it from outside access. No need to fear since this data can be transferred over the internet. The information inside the data may only be given to the other entity that has an authorization from the blockchain network. The core part of this system is the web application built using the Java web platform. First, we try it out. A user must be logged in. After successfully logging in, the user is allowed to add, edit, or remove information. This new blockchain module is meant to be incorporated into Multichain, which will govern the information flows.
The tests below are examples of communication between the web application and MySQL database. Authentication must be established at the beginning of the web application. When we have the consideration that in mind, our intention is to get a registration for births in the national database. You’ll need to provide information about the kind of hall, the hall’s name, a prefecture, an area, and information about the infant to get a birth certificate at the end. A static of birth by area, by prefecture, and by hall will be created using the online application.
4.2. Implementation of Revised RLEMS
As we mentioned before, our system is implemented as a web application and we used the same web application framework. Therefore, from user’s point of view, almost no change of user interface is found. For example, Figure 11 is a top page (authentication) of our system.
Figures from Figures 12-15 represent the workflow of the usage of revised system. Then we can get the official birth certificate document shown in Figure 16.
This workflow shows that our new system works well. As we keep using same web application framework, no change of user interface is found and it enables users to use new system smoothly.
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Figure 13. Window for updating data in the database.
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Figure 14. Window for updating data in the database.
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Figure 15. Entering user information to get user’s official record.
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Figure 16. Generated official birth certificate.
4.3. Chaincode of Our Application
As Hyperledger Fabric provides the flexibility of application development by using the “chaincode”, which is a kind of application program description. By developing the appropriate chaincode for each application, users can implement their required application flexible on Hyperledger Frabric. Figure 17 describes the part of our chaincode written in Java. The total line of our chaincode is approximately 2000 lines.
4.4. Comparison of MultiChain and Hyperledger Fabric
Revised system uses Hyperledger Fabric as a platform of blockchain. Comparing to MultiChain, which was used in previous system, Hyperledger Fabric has following advantages:
1) Flexibility of organization structure: Basically MultiCahin is for the development of private blockchain system. On the other hand, Hyperledger Fabric is not restricted to private blockchain system. It supports consortium blockchain, which is suitable for our application. Furthermore, Hyperledger Fabric
clearly separate the blockchian system and application development. Especially “smart contract”, which is the program triggered by the transaction in the blockchain or any information imported from outside of the system. Hyperledger Fabric support this “smart contract” by “chaincode”, and MultiChain introduced the “smart filters” from version 2.0. The structure of “smart contract” of Hyperledger Fabric is clearer than that of MultiChain. Therefore, Hyperledger Fabric supports more flexible and easy to develop functions.
2) Flexibility of implementation language: Both of these two platforms support Java and JavaScript. Hyperledger Fabric supports Go language. But there is not so serious difference. Developing application with both of these platforms has no serious difference.
3) Richness of support information: Hyperledger Fabric is supported by IBM, Intel, NEC and other major venders. Therefore finding support information such as implementation, developing application, operations, and learning courses is easy. Comparing Hyperledger Fabric, MultiChain has less support information. Therefore, learning, implementing and operation is easier in Hyperledger Fabric.
5. Conclusion and Future Works
We implemented a high-reliability and secure data management system using blockchain in this article. With the help of blockchain technology, a dependable and secure data management system may be easily implemented. Our prototype attempted to find out how dependable and safe the blockchain technology is when it comes to data management. Furthermore, we used the user interface for the online application. There is no need to make any application installations on consumers’ personal computers or cellphones when using a web application strategy. By using this strategy, the security of data management is maintained. Future work includes speeding up processing. Currently, the computational time required to link one block to an outgoing blockchain increases due to the necessity to search for an adequate nonce value. The system must handle more requests quicker than it does presently to keep up. GPU parallel processing will be possible with this. GPU computing allows massively parallel processing. Another future work option is to use Java to construct a blockchain from scratch.