Automated Mechanism to Support Trade Transactions in Smart Contracts with Upgrade and Repair

TL;DR

This paper introduces TABS+R, an extension of a tool that automates the transformation of BPMN models into smart contracts and supports repairing smart contracts when unexpected events prevent completion.

Contribution

It presents a novel methodology and tool extension for repairing smart contracts by modifying the original BPMN models to handle unforeseen events.

Findings

Successfully extended TABS+ to TABS+R for repair capabilities

Demonstrated repair process improves smart contract robustness

Ensures consistent data and logic after repairs

Abstract

In our previous research, we addressed the problem of automated transformation of models, represented using the business process model and notation (BPMN) standard, into the methods of a smart contract. The transformation supports BPMN models that contain complex multi-step activities that are supported using our concept of multi-step nested trade transactions, wherein the transactional properties are enforced by a mechanism generated automatically by the transformation process from a BPMN model to a smart contract. In this paper, we present a methodology for repairing a smart contract that cannot be completed due to events that were not anticipated by the developer and thus prevent the completion of the smart contract. The repair process starts with the original BPMN model fragment causing the issue, providing the modeler with the innermost transaction fragment containing the failed activity. The modeler amends the BPMN pattern on the basis of successful completion of previous activities. If repairs exceed the inner transaction's scope, they are addressed using the parent transaction's BPMN model. The amended BPMN model is then transformed into a new smart contract, ensuring consistent data and logic transitions. We previously developed a tool, called TABS+, as a proof of concept (PoC) to transform BPMN models into smart contracts for nested transactions. This paper describes the tool TABS+R, developed by extending the TABS+ tool, to allow the repair of smart contracts.