Spatial Web Node

A Spatial Web Node, as defined in IEEE P2874, is fundamentally a computing machine connected to the internet. In practical terms, it represents a unique resource that possesses a Spatial Web Identifier (SWID), maintains internal state, and can generate and receive events over one or more channels. These nodes are capable of exchanging Hyperspace Transaction Protocol (HSTP) messages, which encapsulate data conforming to Hyperspace Modelling Language (HSML). HSML itself is a human- and machine-readable modeling language and semantic data ontology schema used to describe entities and their relationships within the Spatial Web.

The IEEE P2874 standard provides the foundational conceptual framework and requirements for Spatial Web Nodes, positioning them within a distributed computing continuum that includes user clients, servers and cloud computing, edge computing, and physical devices. This standard specifies that Spatial Web Nodes must conform to all HSTP and HSML requirements and interact with the Distributed Universal Domain Graph (UDG) System to ensure interoperability and coherence across the Spatial Web ecosystem.

Core Capabilities

To understand what makes a Spatial Web Node function within the broader ecosystem, it's helpful to examine the fundamental capabilities that define these systems:

Global Identity Management: Each node must be assigned a globally unique Spatial Web Identifier (SWID) that acts as a permanent, verifiable Decentralized Identifier (DID). The UDG serves as a distributed registry for SWIDs, ensuring each node can be uniquely identified and referenced across the entire Spatial Web.

Protocol Communication: Nodes must communicate via HSTP, sending and receiving HSTP messages designed for distributed and interoperable computer systems and end-point devices. HSTP provides protocols for automatic configuration, allowing nodes to react dynamically to the addition and removal of devices and networks. It supports various underlying protocol bindings including HTTP, MQTT, and GraphQL.

Distributed Graph Interaction: Each node must interact with the Universal Domain Graph (UDG), a distributed hypergraph containing relationships between all known SWIDs in the Spatial Web. This interaction enables automatic discovery of other nodes, their properties, and capabilities, forming the foundation for the interconnected nature of the Spatial Web.

Content Management: Nodes must store and process Hyperspace Modelling Language (HSML) content. HSML defines the various entities that form the Spatial Web ontology, including ENTITY, ACTIVITY, AGENT, CONTRACT, CHANNEL, CREDENTIAL, DOMAIN, HYPERSPACE, and TIME. Nodes host this content and perform create, read, update, and delete (CRUD) operations on these semantic structures.

Activity Processing: Nodes must perform and resolve HSML Activities, which represent actions or changes an agent (or node acting as an agent) can effect in the Spatial Web. HSTP Operations route and encapsulate HSML Activity Schemas to trigger and perform Activity Instances on target systems.

Security and Permissions: Nodes must manage credentials for secure and permissioned interactions. Spatial Web Nodes operate on zero-trust security concepts, with HSTP providing encryption for message contents and access to decryption keys granted upon validation of HSTP credentials. These credentials support various claims including identity verification, domain relationships, and agent capabilities.