System architecture
A modular path from task request to execution, evidence and coordination.
Five system layers
| Layer | Responsibility | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Request | Define work and constraints | Task specification and acceptance test. |
| Scheduling | Select eligible resources | Assignment and policy trace. |
| Execution | Run the workload | Result and environment record. |
| Measurement | Capture resources and quality | Evidence with explicit boundaries. |
| Coordination | Record acceptance and settlement | Commitment and dispute status. |
The workload lifecycle
- A requester defines inputs, deadline, location restrictions and acceptance criteria.
- A scheduler filters resources by capability and capacity.
- An operator executes the work and collects telemetry.
- A verifier checks the result and the evidence policy.
- An accepted record can be committed to a coordination layer and linked to settlement.
A proposed evidence record
These are candidate fields, not a finished API. They should explain how a measurement was produced without exposing sensitive input data.
Comparable records need common definitions. If one operator counts only accelerator power while another counts the whole server, a shared leaderboard would mislead even if both readings were accurate.
workload_id · software_digest · hardware_profile
measurement_boundary · start_time · duration
energy_used · accepted_work · quality_result
operator_signature · evidence_referenceRepresent incomplete evidence
A result can exist while its efficiency claim remains unverified. Missing telemetry should never silently become a zero-energy record. Separate output validity from measurement validity.
Differences between repeated runs may reflect variability rather than misconduct. Verification should distinguish unstable results, missing metadata, invalid outputs and policy violations.
Keep execution environments modular
An initial prototype can use ground infrastructure. Orbital research can remain an additional environment rather than a prerequisite for every module.
This lets SpaceXSI test a narrow proposition first: whether transparent, resource-aware coordination improves a defined workload after all system overhead. Further scope should follow evidence.