Core Entities
PlatformAn AI application or interface that emits
PlatformRequest messages to Operators and receives AuctionResult responses.
OperatorThe intermediary that receives
PlatformRequest messages, derives ContextRequest messages, runs auctions, and returns AuctionResult responses.
Brand AgentA software endpoint representing a brand or advertiser that receives
ContextRequest messages and submits BidResponse messages.
UserThe end person interacting with the Platform whose intent triggers the protocol flow.
Protocol Objects
PlatformRequestA message sent by a Platform to an Operator containing user intent and context. Uses UCP (User Context Protocol) format. ContextRequest
A message derived by the Operator from a
PlatformRequest and sent to Brand Agents. Contains anonymized intent signals in a UCP-like format.
BidA message submitted by a Brand Agent containing pricing, creative content, and recommendation data. BidResponse
A Brand Agent’s response to a
ContextRequest containing a Bid with pricing and creative information.
AuctionResultThe outcome of an auction returned by the Operator to the Platform, identifying the winning bid and including a
serve_token.
Serve TokenA unique identifier generated by the Operator that links all events resulting from a single auction outcome. Used to associate exposure, click, and conversion events to the same decision. Event
A record of a verified user action (
cpx_exposure, cpc_click, or cpa_conversion) that is attributable to a serve_token.
EventPacketThe protocol structure containing event data, including
event_type, serve_token, and timestamp.
Economic & State Terms
CPX (Cost Per Exposure)A billing unit representing payment when an ad or recommendation is displayed to a user. CPC (Cost Per Click)
A billing unit representing payment when a user interacts or clicks on an ad. CPA (Cost Per Action)
A billing unit representing payment when a user completes a valuable action, such as a purchase or signup. Event Ladder
The hierarchical relationship between event types: CPA > CPC > CPX. Only the highest verified event in the ladder is billable per
serve_token.
ExposureA verified event (
cpx_exposure) indicating that an ad or recommendation was displayed to a user.
ClickA verified event (
cpc_click) indicating that a user interacted with or clicked on an ad.
ConversionA verified event (
cpa_conversion) indicating that a user completed a valuable action, such as a purchase or signup.
Terminal EventThe highest verified event in the event ladder for a given
serve_token. Only the terminal event is billable.
State TransitionA change in the state of a
serve_token from one state (e.g., PENDING, EXPOSED, CLICKED, CONVERTED) to another, following protocol-defined allowed transitions.
InvariantA protocol-level rule that must always hold true for correct AIP behavior, regardless of implementation. Intent
The meaning or goal behind a user’s query or conversation, captured in
PlatformRequest and ContextRequest messages.
Message IDA unique identifier for a protocol message, used for idempotency and message tracking. Session ID
An identifier linking multiple protocol interactions within a user session. Nonce
A unique, one-time value added to signed messages to prevent replay attacks. Timestamp
The precise time an event or message occurred, used for ordering and replay prevention.