P2P Network Trust Relationships
From P2P Foundation
Contents |
Introduction to Trust Relationships in P2P Networks
This article examines the concept of Trust in the context of a P2P Network as a relationship.
Trusting Parties in a P2P Network
Within a P2P Network a peer can establish trust with other peers in the network. In some cases membership in the network may allow a peer to engage in several forms of trust in the network.
Forms of Trust Relationships in a P2P Network
Trust relationships can take the form of the following types:
- Bilateral Trust
- Multi-Lateral
A set of two peers in a network might engage in a bi-lateral trust relationship. One peer could offer a good or service, and the peer on the other side of the relationship can repay the offer in a way so as to cancel it out. When this happens between two peers and no one else is involved it could be considered a bilateral trust relationship.
A multilateral trust relationship would allow peers to interact with more than one peer issuing offers or creating a form of debt, and the peer receiving the offer could then pass that credit on to another peer within the network.
A P2P network that facilitates a multilateral trust network is developing a commons that is synonymous with the number of peers that are willing and able to accept, clear, and pass on agreements in the form of credits and debits within the network. The commons is the multilateral agreement that facilitates and embodies the trust within the network.
Trust Relationships within P2P Networks and Common Resources
Trust relationships within P2P Networks can facilitate the development of Common Resources. Trust relationships allow peers to make agreement with other. Through the use of P2P Protocol the formation of agreements can become easier and easier so that the fluidity of a trust relationship with peers in the network takes on a regular and reliable format. Through trust relationships peers can choose to aggregate value within the network. This value might be a resource that is then entrusted to other peers. In other cases peers could pool currency together to access a resource, or to gain control of a resource. Trust relationships define a network, and the volume and quality of transactions has an influence on the ability of the network to maintain a relationship with the common resource, as well as enabling peer access to the resource.
