MTFS: Merkle Tree based File System
The blockchain technology has been changing ourdaily lives since the cryptocurrencyBitcoin[1] was invented andreleased as open-source software by an unidentified person orgroup using the name of Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009. Of manyapplications which can be implemented based on the blockchain,storage is an important one, a notable example of which is theInterPlanetary File System (IPFS). IPFS is a distributed Webbased on a peer-to-peer hypermedia protocol to make the webfaster, safer, and more open and focuses on public accessible files.To provide a solution for private file storage in the blockchainway, in this thesis we propose a Merkle Tree [2] based File System(MTFS). In MTFS, the blockchain is more than a trust machine;it is an abstract of a cluster system. Distributed random nodesform a tree network [12] cluster without a central controllerto provide a secure private storage service and faster messagepropagation. Advance Proxy Re-Encryption (PRE) [10] algorithmis applied to guarantee secure file exchanges under permission.Merkle Tree [2] will make sure the files are distributed balancedamong the service nodes. The proposed MTFS can be used notonly for personal file storage and exchange but also for industryrequiring mutual trust in file uploading and downloading inmaking contracts like insurance.
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