bitcloud - a universal p2p protocol that intends to distribute and encrypt data trans-globally - for increased privacy and safety

http://bitcloudproject.org/w/Main_Page

Abstract

Bitcloud is a platform supporting a universal protocol with the intent to provide a massive distributed filesystem, or “virtual hard disk”, that can store data encrypted and signed across all connected Nodes, protect privacy, and guarantee quality of service (QoS).

The easiest way to understand Bitcloud may be to think of it as a virtual storage device, with data stored on the Internet in a distributed fashion, and globally available with only those restrictions that each participant sets for the data they upload.

Main characteristics:

  • Bitcloud intentionally provides a base foundation for future Distributed Applications (DAs) with cryptocoin based economic incentives, including escrow transactions and contract services functionality.
  • The core of the Bitcloud platform is a distributed database synced by consensus. It can be leveraged as a database for DAs in the same way that today's local databases are used in backends of dynamic websites (like forums, blogs, or media providers). This database is called the Nodepool (i.e., nodepool.sql).
  • Bitcloud systems perform measurements of QoS, e.g., bandwidth, storage and availability tests. The statistics are published and stored in a database on every Node, and synced and signed by consensus.
  • Bitcloud structures the storage of content into Node Grids, which are composed of groups of Nodes with a shared economical or social interest. Node Grids are automatically self audited and maintained with cryptographic-based consensus decisions and other automated processes.
  • Each record's data is encrypted and sliced in small chunks and distributed to Nodes within the Grid, so that individual Nodes have no ability to determine the contents of the data they store.
  • Data is stored redundantly is such a way that, even if 70% of Nodes on a Grid switch off, data remains retrievable by Users.
  • Bitcloud Grids have one or more Gateway that transform data slices, which are stored and distributed across all Nodes and available as complete files to Users with existing interface tools. For example, a User can access Bitcloud data using his/her web browser without noticing that it is served by Bitcloud.
  • Bitcloud introduces the concept of Publishers. Publishers pay Node Grids to store their data, as they approve. Publishers also have final decision whether or not to send data to the user.
  • Bitcloud service delivery is validated by Users, Gateways, and also participants called Auditors. Auditors have hold the final decision whether service has been delivered at the level agreed. Auditor decisions are supported by cryptographic-based consensus mechanisms. Once Auditors confirm that the user has received complete and correct data, funds may be released via escrow payment as specified by the codified terms of the agreed upon automated contract.
  • Bitcloud also enables a special node grid called the “Public Grid”, which every node is free to participate in. This grid is censorship-resistant but separated from moderated Publisher driven Grids to ensure quality of service to those that pay.
  • In addition to the above, Bitcloud is overall a free protocol. As designers of the protocol, we provide a reference implementation under the terms of the MIT License intended to be very lightweight and able to run both on small devices and big clusters of nodes.

Similarity with other projects

Bitcloud does not compete against i2p and Tor because it is a storage system. Bitcloud is intended to be close to the OSI Layer 5 level with some escrow capabilities, while i2p and Tor are more close to OSI Layer 4.

In fact, Bitcloud will include compatibility with Tor, and DAs using the Bitcloud platform can route Bitcloud data through Tor instead of using regular IP.

Bitcloud is designed to integrate with future protocols like meshnetworking protocols.

A current project closer in nature to Bitcloud is Tahoe-LAFS. In fact, we can consider Bitcloud a potential improvement over Tahoe, making the platform and its data universally available and scalable up to millions of connections. Most importantly, Bitcloud provides the mechanisms for participants to trade in bandwidth and storage services, with guaranteed quality of service.