The problem
Proof of Response (PoR) aims to make network availability observable and economically accountable. A client sends a request through relay nodes to a server, and the response travels back along the same route. Nodes need a way to settle the cost of forwarding each request.
What Martian built
Martian worked with NEAR cofounder Alex Skidanov on a Rust implementation, SDK, documentation, and node-to-contract integration. The running protocol connects PoR nodes with NEAR nodes that execute the state-channel contract. End-to-end tests exercise the network in several scenarios.
How the protocol works
PoR uses TCP requests and responses with state-channel payment updates. The client sends a signed debit, and the receiving node countersigns the update. Martian developed route finding, message framing, heartbeats, late payments, response authentication, and APIs for client and server applications. The contract handles channel opening and closing, partition checks, and reimbursements.
Additional work
Martian also built a file-sharing protocol on top of PoR. The NEAR announcement and protocol paper provide more detail on the design.
