Controlling Resource Allocation using Blockchain-Based Delegation

TL;DR

This paper introduces a blockchain-based framework for secure, flexible, and fine-grained resource allocation and access control across multiple organizations, demonstrated through a transportation credits use-case.

Contribution

It presents a novel multi-organisational delegation framework using blockchain smart contracts, enabling secure and transparent access rights transfer in large-scale systems.

Findings

Framework is feasible and efficient in real-world scenarios

Supports city-wide and potentially country-wide resource sharing

Enhances transparency and control over access rights

Abstract

Allocation of resources and their control over multiple organisations is challenging. This is especially true for a large-scale and dynamic system like the Internet of Things (IoT). One of the core issues in such a system is the provision of secure access control. In particular, transfer of access rights from one entity to another in a secure, flexible and fine-grained manner. In this paper, we present a multi-organisational delegation framework using blockchain. Our framework takes advantage of blockchain smart contracts to define the interactions and resource allocation between the consortium of organisations. We show the feasibility of our solution in a real-world scenario using the allocation of transportation credits in a multi-level organisational setting as a use-case. We provide proof of implementation of the proposed framework using the Hyperledger Fabric blockchain platform. Our results indicate that the proposed framework is efficient and can be used for city-wide transport, potentially even scale country-wide with a shared blockchain with complex access control rules. It also bestows better transparency to the delegation of access rights and control over the employees' transportation access for the organisations.