HIP 74: MOBILE PoC - Modeled Coverage Rewards

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HIP 74: MOBILE PoC - Modeled Coverage Rewards

• Author(s): @thehardbits, @zer0tweets, @jpad-freedomfi, @meowshka
• Start Date: 2022-11-29
• Category: Technical & Economic
• Original HIP PR: HIP: MOBILE PoC via Modeled Coverage #503
• Tracking Issue: HIP 74: MOBILE PoC - Modeled Coverage Rewards #504

Summary

This HIP proposes the first Proof-of-Coverage reward scheme for the MOBILE network and the method it will use to govern rewards in the current Genesis Phase, and beyond. This coverage scheme, known as Modeled Coverage, attempts to predict the coverage that a MOBILE radio provides to a surrounding area using radio characteristics, location data provided during the CBRS CPI registration process, and a public topographical database. This calculation will be performed by a new entity known as an Obstruction Data Oracle, which is an automated process that can predict how a signal will propagate into the surrounding area.

This scheme replaces the current Genesis Phase scheme that relies solely on self-reported Hotspot parameters such as Radio Heartbeats and network Speed Tests. While these items are hard to spoof, they are not verified by external sources and provide limited information about the quality of coverage that a Radio provides. Modeled Coverage improves upon the current scheme by taking into account the directionality of Radios and environmental obstructions that prevent the propagation of the signals they generate.

Once implemented, Modeled Coverage will be a significant milestone in introducing the Proof-of-Coverage concept in the Mobile Network. It's covered in a detailed MOBILE PoC roadmap in the blog post MOBILE Proof-of-Coverage: The Road Ahead MOBILE Proof-of-Coverage: The Road Ahead as Obstruction Data. Combined with other parameters like uptime (Heartbeats) and backhaul (Speed Test), it allows for more fair rewards and incentivizes the deployment of Radios at optimal locations.

It's important to note, HIP 74 is the start of programmatic emissions. This will update a new chain variable that mints rather than draws from the premine.

Motivation

Building the MOBILE Network began with the Genesis Period, during which 5G Hotspot owners with Radios had to send just one Heartbeat in 24 hours to prove they were online. This was a necessary starting point to kickstart the deployments. However, from the start, the goal was to introduce more and more data sources to evaluate the certainty and usefulness of coverage.

To be successful, any Network must be reliable, always available, and meet the expectations of its users. To move one step closer to the Proof-of-Coverage verified by external sources, we propose to use Modeled Coverage data to evaluate the performance of Radios.

Rendered View:

https://github.com/helium/HIP/blob/main/0074-mobile-poc-modeled-coverage-rewards.md

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Update (10/9): This HIP has been presented twice to the community. Once at the Community Call and once at the Governance Call. You can check out the recording and the notes for these meetings at:

• helium.foundation/community-call
• helium.foundation/governance-call

Authors have updated HIP language per community feedback:

1. Rewrote the motivation section to include how modeled coverage is a necessary part of the PoC roadmap
2. Added implementation timeline
3. Addressed 5 indoor radio limits in the drawbacks section

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@meowshka - can you add a few sentences for each of these sections:

1. Rationale and Alternatives
2. Unresolved Questions
3. Deployment Impact
4. Success Metrics

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This has been implemented. Please see this Repo: https://github.com/helium/helium-program-library.

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HIP 74 was approved by the community on 16th Jan 2023 with a passing rate of 84.71%
https://www.heliumvote.com/14jH67zhctwb3B5NmwiAjaXQuyF7jZMZCAnfyBYhSpRS3L22sQE