An Efficient Hash-Selection-Based Blockchain …

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overcome the challenges, present in IIoT, with the lightweight solution of blockchain

technology, the research [15] proposed lightweight scalable blockchain (LSB), which

was enhanced as needed for IoT. It provided end-to-end security where the first

blockchain creation became decentralized by devising an overlay network. The entire

network is arranged in discrete clusters that reduce overheads and look after and

manage the blockchain. The mining process is very costly, so to reduce its processing

overhead and delay, a distributed time-based consensus algorithm (DTC) is proposed.

The LSB also includes an algorithm to ensure that the throughput of the blockchain

does not deviate from the cumulative transaction load in the network. A lightweight

consensus algorithm is proposed to build a trustworthy, distributed system. To opti-

mize the blockchain, a throughput management algorithm is used. In [17] the authors

have developed and proposed a lightweight method for merging IoT with blockchain

called “LightChain”.The proposed method combines the available resources and

solves the PoW puzzles, which is not feasible for individual devices. The results of

the model clearly depict that even with the increase in the number of clusters, the

model is able to effectively utilize the resources. Another blockchain system for IIoT

called LightChain was proposed by the authors of different research work [18]. The

model comprises a lightweight data structure termed LightBlock and a consensus

algorithm with a synergistic multiple proof mechanism. The cooperation among the

IIoT devices is provoked by the consensus mechanism. In [19] the authors proposed

a model for the hyper ledger fabric, which is built on a Byzantine fault-tolerant

consensus algorithm. This consensus algorithm is responsible for system throughput

and transaction confirmation time. To show the application range of BlockChain,

the researcher [20] has put forward an adaptable blockchain protocol called Proof-

of-Property (PoP), which allows the devices to validate the incoming transactions

without downloading the whole blockchain initially. In the research [21] the authors

have proposed a blockchain design for IIoT with Lightweight Hash function and

this hash can change flexibly, depending on transactions. It is the responsibility of

the cell nodes to select the appropriate hash function along with the collection of

the transactions from various field devices and control devices. In the research [22]

the authors made a model named, Rapid Chain, which attempted to improve the

broadcast latency and storage consumption by dividing the entire P2P network into

smaller groups. The leadership selection and cross-chain mechanism in Bitcoin-NG

and Multi-chain helped to improve blockchain scalability. There is another research

[23], where blockchain architecture is designed using Lightweight Hash functions

for IIoT. Here the hash changes depend on the number of transactions. The nodes

collect the transactions from the field devices and control devices and select the

appropriate hash functions as required. The research [24] introduced a signature

theory with a ring-like structure. To let the nodes join or leave the network dynam-

ically, the ElGamal digital signature algorithm and the PBFT algorithm improve

the signature and verification process. The research [25] has proposed a new design

of blockchain with an optimized hash algorithm based on the proactive reconfig-

urable computing architecture (PRCA) where the performance of the blockchain

hash function is improved to ensure security and integrity, and for exchanging data

and information, multiple lightweight hash algorithms are employed. The attack