GlyphNet: A Tri-Layered Architecture for the Decentralized Physics Internet

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Authors: Karl Roesch
Cited by: 0

Abstract

GlyphNet is a decentralized, blockchain-backed protocol designed to enable a secure "Physical Internet" (Phys-net), where autonomous systems like medical robots can safely interact with the physical world. It addresses the critical "Trust-Action Gap" by categorizing all data along two axes—encryption (privacy) and human verification (integrity)—creating four quadrants that strictly control what machines can access and act upon. At its core is the "Proof of Witness" mechanism, requiring direct 1-on-1 human attestation before any data becomes verified and actionable, deliberately introducing a human bottleneck to prevent AI hallucinations or malicious injections from causing physical harm. Unlike the human-readable web, Phys-net traffic consists of machine-optimized binary encodings of physical forces and states, opaque to direct human reading. Through tools like the Glimmary authenticator app, GlyphNet ensures that advanced robotics remain firmly tethered to human sovereignty, consent, and accountability while enabling life-saving automation in medical and physical contexts.

Fields of Study & Subjects

IoT and Edge/Fog Computing Blockchain Technology Applications and Security Smart Grid Security and Resilience

Publication details

Journal / source
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Publication date
3 January 2026