Systems and methods for providing and using proof of coverage in a decentralized wireless network
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing and using a decentralized network using a blockchain. A provider (and/or miner) may provide network coverage to one or more devices in return for tokens on the blockchain. The blockchain may employ a proof-of-coverage scheme to verify (and even guarantee) that the miners are honestly representing the wireless network coverage they are providing. In some instances, the proof of coverage may require the providers to prove coverage periodically, upon demand, and/or at random intervals.
1 . A method for verifying one or more nodes providing network coverage in a decentralized blockchain consensus network, the method comprising:
(a) selecting one or more target nodes to prove that the one or more target nodes provide a wireless network coverage within a geographic area; and
(b) proving the one or more target nodes providing the wireless network coverage by:
i) broadcasting, wirelessly, a multilayer data packet to the one or more target nodes;
ii) establishing a time threshold for each of a plurality of layers of the multilayer data packet; and
iii) verifying, by the decentralized blockchain consensus network, whether the one or more target nodes provide the wireless network coverage based at least in part on a time of arrival of the multilayer data packet when the multilayer data packet is received by the one or more target nodes, by determining whether a duration of time from the broadcasting the multilayer data packet to the time of arrival of each of the plurality of layers of the multilayer data packet is within the corresponding time threshold.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more of target nodes comprise an initial target node.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein proving the wireless network coverage further comprises determining a signal strength of the multilayer data packet when the multilayer data packet is received by the one or more target nodes.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more of target nodes comprise a peer target node.
5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising selecting the peer target node that is within a contiguous radio network formed by the one or more target nodes.
6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein selecting the one or more target nodes comprises selecting the initial target node based on a score indicative of a verification history associated with the initial target node.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the score is based on a number of successful verifications, a number of failed verifications, and a time since the last successful verification.
8 . A system for verifying one or more nodes providing network coverage in a decentralized blockchain consensus network, the system comprising a memory unit for storing program instructions and one or more processors execute the set of program instructions to:
(a) select one or more target nodes to prove that the one or more target nodes provide a wireless network coverage within a geographic area; and
(b) proving the one or more target nodes providing the wireless network coverage by:
i) broadcasting, wirelessly, a multilayer data packet to the one or more target nodes;
ii) establishing a time threshold for each of a plurality of layers of the multilayer data packet; and
iii) verifying, by the decentralized blockchain consensus network, whether the one or more target nodes provide the wireless network coverage based at least in part on a time of arrival of the multilayer data packet when the multilayer data packet is received by the one or more target nodes, by determining whether a duration of time from the broadcasting the multilayer data packet to the time of arrival of each of the plurality of layers of the multilayer data packet is within the corresponding time threshold.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more target nodes comprise an initial target node.
10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the wireless network coverage is further proved by determining a signal strength of the multilayer data packet when the multilayer data packet is received by the one or more target nodes.
11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more of target nodes comprise a peer target node.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the peer target node is within a contiguous radio network formed by the one or more target nodes.
13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more target nodes are selected by selecting the initial target node based on a score indicative of a verification history associated with the initial target node.