Proof of Response

TL;DR

Proof of Response addresses the challenge of verifiable responsiveness in decentralized networks by providing a per-request primitive that yields either a signed response or a blockchain-verifiable proof of non-response. It leverages per-edge state channels and a governance-enabled penalty model on NEAR to incentivize reliable service while allowing continued operation through alternative routes. Key contributions include the formalization of the path-based protocol, the edge-severance and late-payment mechanisms, and practical considerations like bandwidth management and stake-weighted centrality. This approach enables applications such as decentralized storage and autonomous agents with provable uptime, potentially reducing downtime costs and increasing reliability in open networks.

Abstract

We present a mechanism that for a network of participants allows one participant of the network (Alice) to request some data from another participant (Bob) and either receive a response from Bob within a known-in-advance, bounded time b, or receive a proof that at least one edge on the way to Bob was broken within b, or receive a streaming payment proportional to time passed beyond b during which neither was received. This mechanism allows for building downstream applications that require provable responses from other participants, such as decentralized storage solutions, decentralized AI agents, and more.