Decentralized Storage Rental System

Abstract

In the era of exponential digital data growth, the Decentralized Storage Rental System addresses critical challenges in data management within a context defined by increasing volumes of information, cybersecurity threats, and limitations of traditional centralized storage infrastructures. The widespread utilization of digital assets demands innovative approaches to guarantee data security, integrity, and accessibility. This project systematically analyzes these challenges and proposes an advanced solution that leverages blockchain technology and a network of decentralized storage nodes. By adopting this innovative approach, the system provides users with a seaamless experience in renting storage space, uploading, and accessing data securely. Through the implementation of smart contracts, the system ensures transparent and reliable transactions, while the decentralized storage nodes guarantee data availability and resilience against potential failures. In conclusion, the Decentralized Storage Rental System not only addresses the existing challenges in data management but also offers a glimpse into the future of secure and decentralized data storage solutions.

Introduction

I. INTRODUCTION

In the contemporary digital landscape, the management of vast amounts of data poses significant challenges. The proliferation of digital content, coupled with the need for secure and accessible storage solutions, has given rise to innovative paradigms in data management. The concept of decentralized storage rental systems has emerged as a groundbreaking solution to address these challenges. This approach fundamentally redefines how data is stored, accessed, and managed, offering a decentralized, secure, and user-centric framework. The traditional centralized data storage models, often employed by large corporations and cloud service providers, face several challenges. These include concerns about data privacy, security breaches, vendor lock-in, and limitations in scalability. Additionally, the reliance on centralized entities for data storage raises issues related to single points of failure and data accessibility during network downtimes. Ensuring data integrity and availability, especially in the face of cyber threats and natural disasters, has become a paramount concern for businesses, researchers, and individuals alike. Decentralized storage systems represent a paradigm shift in the way data is handled. By leveraging blockchain technology and distributed storage nodes, these systems distribute data across a network of computers rather than centralizing it in a single server farm. This decentralized approach offers several advantages, including enhanced security, data redundancy, fault tolerance, and improved accessibility. Decentralized storage systems are characterized by their ability to break data into smaller chunks, encrypt them, and distribute them across multiple nodes. The development and implementation of decentralized storage rental systems represent a significant milestone in the evolution of data management technologies. These systems empower users by providing them with control over their data, ensuring its security, availability, and integrity. As businesses, researchers, and individuals increasingly recognize the value of decentralized storage, the technology is poised to transform various sectors, including finance, healthcare, research, and content distribution. Moreover, ongoing research and development efforts in this field continue to refine the technology, addressing its limitations and expanding its applicability.

II. LITERATURE REVIEW

1. Decentralized Cloud Storage using Unutilized Storage in PC [1] : This research paper proposes a decentralized cloud storage model that leverages the unused storage space in personal computers to address the growing demand for cloud storage services. The model emphasizes data security by incorporating methods such as storing data in chunks, encrypting data at the user side, hashing encrypted chunks, and storing chunks in multiple hosts.
2. A Blockchain-based Decentralized Data Storage and Access Framework for PingER [2] : The paper proposes a blockchain-based decentralized data storage and access framework for PingER, a global Internet performance measurement project. The design uses a permissioned blockchain and Distributed Hash Tables (DHT) to enable decentralized storage, distributed processing, and efficient data lookup.
3. Decentralized Storage System for Edge Computing [3] : The proposed solution is a distributed, decentralized storage application designed to run on various edge nodes with different operating systems, architectures, and file systems. These edge nodes share files from sensors and utilize wireless communication for sharded data with constant cloud backup.
4. A Blockchain-Based Distributed Storage Network to Manage Growing Data Storage Needs [4] : With the current scenario in mind, where digital data seems to be growing exponentially, the paper propose the usage of unused storage space of the existing electronic devices owned by users in a manner where the contributing users receive compensation for sharing their storage space.
5. Efficient Decentralized Data Storage Based on Public Blockchain and IPFS [5] : The document explains how blockchain technology can be used in a system called "One Go" architecture. It outlines four main steps: IPFS, agreement, smart contract, and storing data in blockchain. It compares two scenarios for communication between parties, showing how the second scenario reduces the time taken for blockchain functions.
6.  Decentralized Cloud Storage Using Blockchain [6]: The proposed solution leverages Blockchain, a decentralized system, for secure data storage. The methodology involves user account creation, file encryption, distribution across peers, and storage details recorded in the Blockchain through smart contracts. The analysis includes the impact of file size and peer availability on upload times, showcasing the system's reliability through file replication on multiple peers.
7. Proposed Model for Secured Data Storage in Decentralized Cloud by Blockchain Ethereum [7]: In this research paper, the authors explore the integration of blockchain technology, particularly Ethereum, into cloud computing systems to enhance data security. The focus is on addressing the challenges associated with centralized cloud storage, such as data security concerns. The paper discusses the role of Ethereum blockchain in providing security, highlights the benefits of decentralized cloud storage, and acknowledges the challenges that need further exploration.
8. Blockchain Empowered Decentralized Storage in Air-to-Ground Industrial Networks [8]:  The paper introduces a blockchain-powered decentralized platform for secure information storage and trading in air-to-ground IoT networks. Utilizing consensus processes, Cournot-Nash equilibrium, and smart contracts, it optimizes Quality of Service. Security risks are addressed, making it a valuable contribution to blockchain applications in industrial IoT.
9. Decentralized Coded Caching in Wireless Networks [9]: Trade-off between Storage and Latency: The paper investigates decentralized coded caching in Fog Radio Access Networks (F-RANs) with the trade-off between storage and latency. The authors propose a decentralized content placement strategy and a coded delivery scheme to minimize the normalized delivery time (NDT) during peak hours.
10. Design Guidelines for Blockchain-Assisted 5G-UAV Networks [10]: The paper envisions a 5G network environment supported by blockchain-enabled Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to address dynamic user demands with decentralized service delivery (Drones as a Service). It explores the challenges faced by traditional 5G networks, especially in ultra-dense urban areas with growing IoT devices. The proposed solution leverages UAVs as mobile access points to overcome access limitations and improve Quality of Service (QoS). The proposed solution is evaluated through simulation results, demonstrating its potential benefits for smart city applications. Challenges and future research directions, including the integration of Federated Learning, are also highlighted.

III. METHODOLOGY

A. Define Use Cases And User Roles

1. Use Cases

a. Storage Rentals: Identify the specific functionalities related to renting storage space, such as listing available storage, booking storage, and releasing storage.

b. Smart Contracts: Define the scenarios where smart contracts will be employed, such as creating agreements between renters and providers, handling payments, and enforcing terms.

c. Tokenized Payments: Specify how tokenized payments will work within the system, including the token's value in relation to storage space.

2. User Roles

a. Storage Providers: Individuals or entities offering storage space for rent.

b. Renters: Users seeking to rent storage space.

c. Administrators: Oversee and manage the decentralized storage rental system.

B. Choose the Blockchain Platform (Ethereum):

1. Established and widely used blockchain platform.
2. Smart contract functionality.
3. Large developer community.
4. Supports the creation of custom tokens (ERC20 or ERC721 standards for utility tokens).

C. Smart Contract Development:

1. Smart Contract Components:
2. Storage Rental Agreement:  Defines terms and conditions for storage rental.
3. Payment Handling:  Manages transactions between renters and providers.
4. Storage Availability:  Updates the status of available storage space.

D.  Token Implementation

1. Pay for storage rental fees.

a. Incentivize storage providers to offer their services.

b. Enable users to participate in the governance of the decentralized storage network.

2. Earning Storage Tokens

a. Storage Providers earn ETH tokens by renting out their storage space.

b. Renters acquire ETH tokens by paying for storage rental services.

c. Users may also receive ETH tokens as rewards for positive contributions to the network (e.g., leaving helpful reviews).

3. Token Exchange

Users can acquire ETH tokens through cryptocurrency exchanges using other cryptocurrencies (e.g., Bitcoin)

E. User Authentication and Authorization:

1. Implement a decentralized identity system, possibly utilizing blockchain based identity solutions.
2. Allow users to control access to their data through cryptographic keys.

F. User Interface Development

1. Storage Provider Interface

a. Enable providers to list available storage space.

b. Facilitate communication with potential renters.

2. Renter Interface

a. Provide an interface for renters to browse available storage options.

b. Enable the initiation of rental agreements.

G. Payment System:

1. Use smart contracts to automate payment processes.
2. Define conditions for payment release, ensuring fairness and trust.

H. Deployment

1. Use Ethereum's deployment tools to release smart contracts onto the blockchain.
2. Verify the contracts on the blockchain for transparency.

Conclusion

The proposed system intertwining decentralized storage with blockchain technology offers a groundbreaking solution for secure and efficient data management. By leveraging blockchain\'s transparency and distributed consensus, the system enhances data integrity and resilience. Its decentralized architecture mitigates single points of failure, ensuring robust data storage. The incorporation of smart contracts automates transactions, reducing reliance on intermediaries for heightened efficiency. Challenges such as scalability and energy efficiency require further exploration, but this research paves the way for a transformative approach to decentralized and secure data storage.

References

[1] Somarouthu Srikanth, et al: “Decentralized Cloud Storage using Unutilized Storage in PC” IEEE 2021 [2] Saqib Ali, Guojun Wang, et al. “A Blockchain-based Decentralized Data Storage and Access Framework for PingER” IEEE 2018 [3] Alin-Gabriel Gheorghe, et al. “Decentralized Storage System for Edge Computing” ISPDC 2019 [4] Vijay A. Kanade “A Blockchain-Based Distributed Storage Network to Manage Growing Data Storage Needs” IEEE 2021 [5] Morteza Alizadeh, et al: “Efficient Decentralized Data Storage Based on Public Blockchain and IPFS” IEEE 2020 [6] Meet Shah, et al. “Decentralized Cloud Storage Using Blockchain” IEEE 2020 [7] Nabeel Khan, et al. “Proposed Model for Secured Data Storage in Decentralized Cloud by Blockchain Ethereum” MDPI 2022 [8] Yongxu Zhu, et al. “Blockchain Empowered Decentralized Storage in Air-to-Ground Industrial Networks” IEEE 2019 [9] A. M. Girgis, et al. ‘‘Decentralized coded caching in wireless networks: Trade-off between storage and latency,’’ in Proc. IEEE 2017 [10] M. Aloqaily, et al. ‘‘Design guidelines for blockchain-assisted 5G-UAV networks,’’ IEEE 2021.

Copyright

Copyright © 2023 Dr. Madhavi Pradhan, Akanksha Deshpande, Yash Dhumal, Kunal Jadhav, Gaurav Bagal. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.