Highly flexible blockchain architecture

Metrx AI is designed to enable an exceptional level of flexibility in blockchain management and operations. As shown in the dotted box, a Metrx AI blockchain consists of six types of networked nodes, standard Metrx AI nodes, cloud access nodes, cloud storage nodes, Metrx AI trustworthy gateway, storage nodes for external data sources, and AI service nodes.

Standard Metrx AI nodes constitute one distributed collaborative control chain and at least one data chain. Each node should have the computing power to run a virtual machine. The distributed collaborative control chain, abbreviated as control chain hereafter, is designed by completely following the distributed and decentralized principle of blockchains. Cloud access nodes are devised to facilitate the access of mobile devices to Metrx AI’s cloud service so that all devices connected to Metrx AI have sufficient computing power.

The block data of a Metrx AI blockchain are copied in real time to the cloud storage nodes. Instead of serving for consensus, the cloud storage is designed to make it easier for users to view data offline. Users can obtain the transaction records for validation, data mining, and other purposes. Metrx AI trustworthy gateway is the key interface to communicate with external data sources. This device will obtain all the external data sources requested by Metrx AI and determine their credibility. When using these data, Metrx AI nodes check the data consistency to determine the level of confidence of each data source and give a credit rating to each external node. Metrx AI trustworthy gateways are also organized with a P2P topology. Storage nodes for external data sources from a pool for data obtained via Metrx AI trustworthy gateways.

The data have to pass an AI based validation procedure before being checked in. The pool will also store private data of users, but such data are encrypted to ensure that only authorized users have access. All data inside the pool can be verified by checking their signature without accessing their content to prove whether they have been tempered. AI service nodes serve two functions, supporting the optimization of the entire system and initiating various AI services on Metrx AI. It can service external users by initiating Metrx AI as a service provider and also arrange Metrx AI nodes to offer services to internal users. The AI service nodes depend on affiliated hardware to provide computing power.