ICTE Network — Multi-Layer Decentralization With Bubbling
ICTE uses a mixture of decentralization, ability-based routing, and mesh networking. Developing decentralized networks is much more expensive because it takes more resources and requires higher-level logic and algorithms to ensure its efficiency.
ICTE Global Decentralization
ICTE nodes have a global hierarchy with seeder nodes, standard nodes, and satellite nodes. We use this hierarchy to create our decentralized network. Thus, for two nodes to discover each other and communicate from halfway across the world, there is a maximum of 3 levels of interaction (through the hierarchy). Therefore, we reach a very low O-time for any messages sent out globally as well.
Ability-Based Bubbling
ICTE uses an ability-based interaction with bubbling on top of the decentralized model to host our fastest possible network communication. ICTE uses abilities and bubbling when sending out global messages across the network. With abilities, when a message is being broadcast, there will realistically be nodes that will find no use of some of the messages. For example, a block-explorer node has no use with messages pertaining to exchange services. So, we categorize each node not only by hierarchy but also by the abilities and actions that this node has and can take. Now, the nodes know exactly what other discovered nodes can do but still cannot identify any personal information it can hold, keeping them safe and secure.
Further, rather than relying on something as inefficient as the mesh model (which would give us an exponential number of operations to send one message), we take advantage of the decentralization hierarchy. Bubble-messages make sure that each node sends messages to the one node above its echelon, and the other nodes below it. Seeders, of course, have the responsibility to communicate with the other seeders in the network to be able to spread the message to every single node. This way, the messages act like bubbles that grow to the reach of each node, and each node does the same as we finally cover the entire network with the message. With this, we reach a logarithmic time to send a message across the world, rather than exponential.
Peer-to-Peer Mesh Network
As we said earlier, mesh networks are very slow to support global communication. However, for peer-to-peer communication, mesh networks are perfectly suitable and the fastest communication as possible. So, within each region, nodes are able to connect to other nodes directly through regional discovery. In the process, each node will connect to any node it discovers nearby in a truly distributed manner. This way, any node-to-node message can be sent directly as long as the two have discovered one another, and there is no hit on the overall network speeds.
Where the mesh network shines is when we imagine the situation when two individuals are walking down the street, each with ICTE Wallet on their phones. There, the mesh network enables them to scan each other’s QR code and be able to have direct communication with each other through the nodes that they are each connected to, without any third party being involved! 😉
