Protocols for the decentralized cloud
Relay nodes
Relay nodes act as L1 caching layer and come in the layer between master nodes and viewers. Although their storage capacities and uptime guarantees aren’t as strong as the master nodes, they are present at a higher density than the master nodes and are closer to the viewers.
Master nodes present in the region decide the specific resources relay nodes should store based on the popularity, resource size, and other considerations. A master node can optionally act as a relay node too.
Master nodes
Master nodes have high storage and bandwidth facilities and act as L2 caching layer. Commercial data centers with spare capacity or entities who buy high capacity hardware specifically for the purpose of being a CDN node can be a master node.
Master nodes guarantee availability and persistence of data. They also decide global resource allocation by applying machine learning models over resource demand patterns. They efficiently route requests to relays so that the clients can fetch resources from his closest nodes.
Blockchain nodes & Miners
Blockchain nodes and Miners handle the payment processing and fraud analysis in the Marlin network. They trustlessly verify the transactions to ensure that publisher is not being overpaid and serving nodes are adequately compensated.
Blockchain nodes also perform several checks on the serving nodes such as Proof of Availability, Augmented Proof of Storage-Time, to track any fraudulent behavior and ensure network’s quality of service.
Proof of
Availability
To ensure performance guarantees, the Marlin network makes Randomized audits along with secure Challenger-Verifier protocols.
Augmented
proof of storage time
Regular storage proofs ensure that even the most unpopular content is replicated and is ready to be served.
Decentralized Storage
Spare storage not utilized by publishers can be rented for personal and enterprise storage.
Smart Caching
Intelligent prefetching and prepositioning algorithms enable low latency delivery while decongesting the origin.
Global
Reputation Consensus
Nodes staying and actively contributing to the network activity are given higher reputation scores, which would incentivize them as payout is a direct function of reputation.
Smart Metering
Probabilistic micropayments ensure that over time peers correctly get paid for what they serve and publishers are not overcharged.
Adaptive Bit Rate
Smart bit rate selecton for video streaming applications to maximize users viewing experience and resource utilization.
