$$ \newcommand \WS {\mathrm{WS}} \newcommand \PtoP {\mathrm{P2P}} \newcommand \HYB {\mathrm{HYB}} \newcommand \WSNet {\mathcal{N}_\WS} \newcommand \PtoPNet {\mathcal{N}_P} \newcommand \HybNet {\mathcal{N}_H} \newcommand \Peer {\mathrm{Peer}} \newcommand \RelayNode {\mathcal{R}} \newcommand \PeerNode {\mathcal{P}} \newcommand \HybridNode {\mathcal{H}} $$

Hybrid Network Definition

The Hybrid Network is currently in experimental mode, as it includes Peer-to-Peer Network functionalities.

Let’s define \( \HybNet \) as an object that models a working Hybrid Network \( \HYB \).

The Hybrid Network \( \HybNet = \WSNet \cup \PtoPNet \) is the network layer that unifies the Relay Network \( \WS \) and the Peer-to-Peer Network \( \PtoP \).

Nodes in the \( \HybNet \) act as gateways, running simultaneously \( \WS \) and \( \PtoP \) for the interoperability of both network layers.

Conceptually, all functions and implementations of \( \HYB \) act as a switch statement to select the appropriate network layer according to the parameters of the sender \( \Peer \) of the incoming message.

A Hybrid Network maintains both the Relay Network definition and the Peer-to-Peer Network definition.

See also the \( \HYB \) identity challenge for details on how peer deduplication works in both subnetworks.

Hybrid Network Topology

The following sketch represents a typical topology of a Hybrid Network \( \HybNet \), where:

• \( \RelayNode \) represents a relay node,
• \( \PeerNode \) represents a peer node,
• \( \HybridNode \) represents a hybrid node,
• \( \PeerNode_r \) represents a peer node connected to \( \RelayNode \),
• \( \PeerNode_p \) represents a peer node connected to \( \PeerNode \),
• \( \HybridNode \) represents a hybrid node, connected both to \( \RelayNode \) and \( \PeerNode \),
• A \( \PeerNode_r \) is connected on average to \( 4 \RelayNode \),
• A \( \PeerNode_r \) is not connected to other \( \PeerNode \),
• A \( \PeerNode_p \) is connected on average to \( 4 \PeerNode \),
• A \( \HybridNode \) is connected on average to \( 4 \RelayNode \),
• A \( \HybridNode \) is connected on average to \( 4 \PeerNode \),
• A \( \RelayNode \) is connected to multiple \( \RelayNode \).