Alibaba says that its "unified blockchain domain name scheme" would simplify and improve communication between blockchains. In a patent granted by the United States Patent Office last week, the e-commerce giant said that its domain name system could allow for simpler and more seamless cross-chain communications than existing interoperability.
A project to simplify interoperability between blockchains globally
The new blockchain interoperability project was called Cosmos. Alibaba says that the assignment of universally recognizable domain names to blockchains, or parts of a blockchain, could allow for better identification and interaction with third parties in a wider network, in much the same way as different entities recognize and they communicate with each other using domain names, such as ".com" or ".org". The problem with existing systems, the patent suggests, is that they can be clunky and bulky.
One of the features of Cosmos, for example, is to require that each blockchain maintain separate identifications for each individual link held with another blockchain. These cannot be reused and this means that the ID system has only "a local scope".
But Alibaba says that, in its simplified system, blockchains only need a domain name - a unified blockchain domain name (UBCDN) - recognizable and valid in all communications with other chains.
This also entails the possibility of communicating with other systems without having to keep an ever-expanding address book with specific identifications. "Unlike existing cross-chain implementations similar to COSMOS ... UBCDN can be used and is globally recognizable by all blockchain instances in the unified blockchain network, regardless of how many relay chains [network links] are included in the unified blockchain network ”, Reads the patent.
Alibaba's commitment to the blockchain
Alibaba has filed a series of blockchain patents for a large number of use cases. In December 2019, it managed to obtain a patent that would make consortium networks - private systems managed and controlled by a few selected entities - faster and safer to use.
A patent does not necessarily mean that the company that obtained it will proceed with the implementation. Therefore, it is unclear whether Alibaba has an active plan to start its domain name system.
A possible launch venue for Alibaba's recently patented domain name system could be the blockchain platform of its sister company Ant Financial, which was unveiled in November.
In the patent application, the company states that the system was designed with a consortium network in mind. It also includes a feature that enables human-readable names which, the company suggests, could make it easier for the entities involved to identify themselves.
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