Understanding Reward Calculations

and the H3 Specification in the Nodle Network

spacesmutje
3 min readFeb 4, 2024

The Nodle network, a decentralized ecosystem designed to connect machines with machines and people with people, employs a sophisticated method for calculating rewards for its edge nodes. These rewards incentivize nodes to be available, capable, and well-located to ensure the network’s efficient operation. A crucial component of this system is the use of the H3 geospatial indexing system, developed by Uber, which optimizes spatial analysis through a hexagonal grid. This article delves into the intricacies of Nodle’s reward calculations and the role of the H3 specification in achieving a fair and efficient distribution of rewards.

Reward Calculation in the Nodle Network

The Nodle network aims to incentivize edge nodes through a reward system that emphasizes availability, capability, and optimal location. The total reward pool for edge nodes at each calculation event is based on several key factors:

Time-availability Factor

Nodes are rewarded proportionally to their uptime, with the period between reward calculations divided into 90-second slots. Nodes performing Nodle-related activities during these slots are considered available and are rewarded accordingly.

Geospatial-availability Factor

This factor encourages nodes to move and explore, providing reliable network coverage. It’s based on the area covered and the density of nodes within these areas, utilizing the H3 geospatial indexing system for efficient space partitioning and analysis.

Bluetooth-availability Factor

Given the network’s focus on connecting Bluetooth devices, this factor rewards nodes based on their Bluetooth connectivity, with higher rewards for nodes that can connect to a wider range of devices.

Capabilities Multiplier

This multiplier is linked to a node’s ability to perform tasks, with higher values assigned to nodes capable of undertaking active missions.

Compartmentalization Per Region

To ensure fair distribution across regions, there’s an option to compartmentalize rewards by country, based on each country’s global population share.

The Role of the H3 Specification

The H3 specification is a geospatial indexing system that uses a hexagonal grid to map the Earth’s surface, offering several advantages over traditional square or rectangular grids. Its key features include:

  • Hexagonal Grid: Offers a more uniform distribution of points within each cell and fewer edge cases in algorithms.
  • Hierarchical Structure: Allows for efficient data representation and querying at multiple levels of granularity.
  • Global Coverage: Covers the entire globe by overlaying 122 base cells, including twelve pentagons to accommodate the Earth’s spherical shape.
  • Spatial Analysis: Supports a range of spatial analysis functions, enabling quick aggregation and comparison of data across different scales.

Applications of H3 in the Nodle Network

The Nodle network leverages the H3 specification for its geospatial-availability factor, utilizing the hexagonal grid to optimize the distribution of nodes and ensure efficient network coverage. This system facilitates the calculation of rewards based on the area covered and the density of nodes, promoting movement and exploration to enhance network reliability.

Conclusion

The Nodle network’s reward calculation system, combined with the H3 geospatial indexing system, represents a sophisticated approach to incentivizing participation and ensuring the efficient operation of a decentralized digital trust network.

By focusing on availability, capability, and optimal location, and utilizing the advantages of a hexagonal grid for spatial analysis, the Nodle network aims to achieve a fair and effective distribution of rewards across its global network of edge nodes.

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