High-Performance Blockchain Infrastructure for IoT Applications******

区块链或分布式分类账技术(DLTS)可以成为一种开创性的颠覆性技术，能够对从加密货币到公共部门和私营部门的新用例的广泛市场产生深远影响。区块链承诺能够在可信的存储库中维护关键信息，而无需任何集中管理。该系统的可靠性基于固有的不变性属性，这些属性防止更改存储的数据，再加上使用称为智能合约的可执行代码对传入交易进行编程验证。区块链可以通过提供透明度、效率、可审计性和安全性来减少用户之间的摩擦。**在区块链技术能够被广泛采用之前，仍有重要的挑战需要解决。特别是，区块链系统受到性能和可扩展性问题的影响。在这个项目中，主要目标是展示DLTS在加密货币以外的应用中的适用性，并提高其实用性，特别是在物联网领域。我们将通过四个不同的载体来实现这一目标：(1)研究物联网区块链应用程序并分析其性能要求；(2)设计和实施各种区块链系统(如Etherum和Hyperledger Fabric)的技术创新以提高其性能和可扩展性；(3)开发区块链网络的通用性能模型，帮助决策过程为每个应用程序选择合适的区块链解决方案，以及如何对其进行优化调整。以及(4)为大型数据中心设计新的基础设施管理协议，以高效支持未来的物联网应用。**由于区块链仍处于初级阶段，加拿大有巨大的机会成为其发展的领先者。该项目的研究成果将导致区块链技术在各种工业和社会领域得到更广泛的采用。此外，该项目将培养至少8名研究生，以满足对高技能区块链专家日益增长的需求。*

Blockchains, or Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLTs), can become a groundbreaking disruptive technology, capable of profoundly impacting a wide range of markets, from cryptocurrency to novel use cases in both the public sector and the private sector. Blockchains promise the ability to maintain critical information in a trustworthy repository without any centralized management. The reliability of the system is based on innate immutability properties which prevent alteration of stored data, coupled with programmatic verification of incoming transactions using executable code called smart contracts. Blockchains can alleviate friction across users, by providing transparency, efficiency, auditability, and security. **Important challenges remain to be solved before blockchain technology can be widely adopted. In particular, blockchain systems suffer from performance and scalability problems. In this project, the main goal is to demonstrate the applicability and improve the utility of DLTs for applications beyond cryptocurrency, specifically in the domain of Internet of Things. We will accomplish this goal through four different vectors: (1) the study of IoT blockchain applications and an analysis of their performance requirements, (2) the design and implementation of technical innovations to various blockchain systems (e.g., Ethereum and Hyperledger Fabric) to raise their performance and scalability, (3) the development of general performance models for blockchain networks, which assist in the decision-making process of selecting the right blockchain solution for each application, and how to optimally tune it, and (4) the design of new infrastructure management protocols for large-scale data centers to efficiently support future IoT applications.**As blockchain is still in its infancy, there is a tremendous chance for Canada to become a leader in its development. The research outcomes of this project will lead to greater adoption of blockchain technologies across a variety of industrial and social sectors. Furthermore, the project will train at least 8 graduate students to meet the growing demands for highly skilled blockchain experts.******