Blockchain-Based Multi-party Cooperation and Resource-Sharing Scheme for Space-Air-Ground Integrated Networks

The future 6G network will integrate terrestrial and space networks to realize the ubiquitous connection of the whole world as the Internet of Everything (IoE), enabling efficient cooperation and resource-sharing between telecom operators or different terminals. However, building mutual trust between operators or terminals is a big challenge. Blockchain is a promising technology to solve this problem by converting the trust between multi parties to the trust to the commonly maintained ledger and independently performed smart contracts. This paper discussed the cooperation and resource-sharing scenarios between different operators and terminals in the space-air-ground integrated network (SAGIN) and analyzed the core problems. A blockchain-based multi-party cooperation and resource-sharing framework is proposed for the SAGIN, and the relationship between the enabling technologies of the blockchain and the basic functions of the framework is described in detail. Finally, some practical considerations to establish the framework based on the consortium blockchain are discussed.