1. TL;DR
Events track and verify each stage of the decision lifecycle: participation, interaction, delegation, and outcome.
2. Why it matters
Traditional systems rely on opaque tracking pixels and fragmented attribution. AIP replaces those with signed, timestamped events tied to a singleserve_token that can be independently verified by all participants.
This means:
- No duplicate billing
- No fabricated interactions
- Transparent proof of every settled action
- Full lifecycle visibility from participation to outcome
3. Decision lifecycle events
AIP defines four progressive event stages - each building on the last. Only the highest-value event in a lifecycle is billable perserve_token.
| Event | Type | Trigger | Settlement Unit | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exposure shown | exposure_shown | Commercial response surfaced to user | CPX | Both |
| Interaction started | interaction_started | User engaged with recommendation | CPE or CPC | Both |
| Delegation started | delegation_started | Session handoff initiated | - | Delegate only |
| Delegation activity | delegation_activity | Platform or Brand Agent proves the delegated session is still active | - | Delegate only |
| Delegation expired | delegation_expired | Operator marks the delegated session inactive or closed before completion | - | Delegate only |
| Task completed | task_completed | User completed a signup, purchase, or action | CPA | Both |
task_completed) is verified, lower-tier events are not billed again.
| Metric | Meaning |
|---|---|
CPX | Cost per Exposure |
CPE | Cost per Engagement |
CPC | Cost per Click |
CPA | Cost per Action |
4. Event lifecycle
Recommend mode
Delegate mode
Each transition is verified and timestamped. If no further event occurs, the lifecycle ends at the last verified state.5. EventPacket schema
All events share common required fields that link them back to the selection and enable verification.Common required fields
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
event_type | string | Event type identifier (exposure_shown, interaction_started, delegation_started, delegation_activity, delegation_expired, or task_completed) |
serve_token | string | Serve token from the PlatformResponse - links event to original selection |
ts | string | ISO 8601 timestamp of when the event occurred |
Event-specific fields
At the protocol level, events requireevent_type, serve_token, and ts. Each event type has additional required and optional fields that are implementation-specific.
Example: Exposure shown event
Example: Interaction started event
Example: Delegation started event
This event is emitted by the Operator after the Platform has collected user consent and the Operator has confirmed that the selected Brand Agent can accept the delegated session. It proves that the delegated session was authorized and initiated. It does not mean the Operator transports or inspects every subsequent turn in the live delegated session.Example: Delegation activity event
This non-billable event is emitted by either the Platform or the Brand Agent while the delegated session remains active. Each verifieddelegation_activity resets the inactivity timer for the delegated session.
Example: Delegation expired event
This non-billable event is recorded by the Operator when the delegated session expires before task completion, usually because the inactivity timeout elapsed.Example: Task completed event
serve_token links each event back to the original selection and selected agent.
6. Verification process
Operators define their own verification logic for each event type. Acceptable signal sources include:| Event Type | Signal Sources (Informational) |
|---|---|
| Exposure shown | Platform display logs, visibility events, viewability metrics |
| Interaction started | Platform interaction logs, user engagement events, timestamp validation |
| Delegation started | Operator session records, brand agent session confirmation |
| Delegation activity | Platform session activity, brand agent turn logs, liveness heartbeats |
| Delegation expired | Operator inactivity timer, max-turn enforcement, operator session controls |
| Task completed | Brand agent callbacks, server-side API confirmations, outcome tracking |
serve_token. Operators implement their own verification and reconciliation logic to ensure event integrity.
In delegated flows, operators verify session start, track liveness from activity events sent by both the Platform and Brand Agent, and record expiry or outcomes even when the live task turns after session initiation are direct between the Platform and Brand Agent.
7. Example flow
Recommend mode
- Platform renders a commercial recommendation → exposure_shown logged
- User clicks the recommendation → interaction_started verified
- User signs up on brand’s site → task_completed confirmed
- Lower events (exposure_shown, interaction_started) are marked as verified but not billed
Delegate mode
- Platform shows delegation offer → exposure_shown logged
- User consents, the Operator confirms brand-agent availability and initiates the delegated session → delegation_started verified
- Platform and Brand Agent emit
delegation_activitywhile the session remains active - If the inactivity timeout elapses, the Operator records
delegation_expired - If the user completes signup through the brand agent before expiry → task_completed confirmed
- Only task_completed (CPA) is billed
8. Settlement implications
Operators determine settlement based on verified events according to the event lifecycle: Settlement rule: Only the highest-value event in a lifecycle is billable.| Highest verified event | What is billed |
|---|---|
task_completed | CPA |
interaction_started | CPE or CPC |
delegation_started | Operator-defined |
exposure_shown | CPX |
delegation_activity and delegation_expired are non-billable lifecycle control events.
Settlement terms, revenue sharing, and payout schedules are defined by each operator’s policies and agreements with platforms and brand agents.
9. Guarantees
- Each event is uniquely linked to a serve token
- Events cannot be duplicated or retroactively modified
- Signatures are auditable by any party in the chain
- Settlement data is mathematically verifiable
- Only the highest-value event per lifecycle is billable
Summary
Events are the backbone of AIP - they turn user decisions into verified, auditable, and settled outcomes across the full participation lifecycle.