Practical comparison of distributed ledger technologies for IoT

Val A. Red

doi:10.1117/12.2262793

4 May 2017 Practical comparison of distributed ledger technologies for IoT

Val A. Red

Proceedings Volume 10206, Disruptive Technologies in Sensors and Sensor Systems; 102060G (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2262793
Event: SPIE Defense + Security, 2017, Anaheim, CA, United States

Abstract

Existing distributed ledger implementations – specifically, several blockchain implementations – embody a cacophony of divergent capabilities augmenting innovations of cryptographic hashes, consensus mechanisms, and asymmetric cryptography in a wide variety of applications. Whether specifically designed for cryptocurrency or otherwise, several distributed ledgers rely upon modular mechanisms such as consensus or smart contracts. These components, however, can vary substantially among implementations; differences involving proof-of-work, practical byzantine fault tolerance, and other consensus approaches exemplify distinct distributed ledger variations. Such divergence results in unique combinations of modules, performance, latency, and fault tolerance. As implementations continue to develop rapidly due to the emerging nature of blockchain technologies, this paper encapsulates a snapshot of sensor and internet of things (IoT) specific implementations of blockchain as of the end of 2016. Several technical risks and divergent approaches preclude standardization of a blockchain for sensors and IoT in the foreseeable future; such issues will be assessed alongside the practicality of IoT applications among Hyperledger, Iota, and Ethereum distributed ledger implementations suggested for IoT. This paper contributes a comparison of existing distributed ledger implementations intended for practical sensor and IoT utilization. A baseline for characterizing distributed ledger implementations in the context of IoT and sensors is proposed. Technical approaches and performance are compared considering IoT size, weight, and power limitations. Consensus and smart contracts, if applied, are also analyzed for the respective implementations’ practicality and security. Overall, the maturity of distributed ledgers with respect to sensor and IoT applicability will be analyzed for enterprise interoperability.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Val A. Red "Practical comparison of distributed ledger technologies for IoT", Proc. SPIE 10206, Disruptive Technologies in Sensors and Sensor Systems, 102060G (4 May 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2262793

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