# WIA-EDU-012 Micro-Credential Standard v1.2

## Phase 3: Protocol & Synchronization

**Status:** ✅ Complete
**Version:** 1.2.0
**Date:** 2025-01-25
**Philosophy:** 弘益人間 (Benefit All Humanity)

---

## 1. Overview

Phase 3 defines protocols for real-time synchronization, distributed verification, and cross-platform credential portability. This enables seamless credential movement between different systems while maintaining data integrity and privacy.

## 2. Synchronization Protocol

### 2.1 Real-Time Sync

WebSocket-based protocol for real-time credential updates:

```
wss://sync.wia.org/edu-012
```

### 2.2 Event Streaming

Subscribe to credential lifecycle events in real-time.

## 3. Distributed Verification

### 3.1 Blockchain Anchoring

Credentials can be anchored to public blockchains for immutable verification:

- Bitcoin via OP_RETURN
- Ethereum via smart contracts
- Hyperledger Fabric for consortium networks

### 3.2 DID-Based Verification

Support for W3C Decentralized Identifiers:

```json
{
  "credentialSubject": {
    "id": "did:web:learner.example.com",
    "type": "AchievementSubject"
  },
  "proof": {
    "type": "Ed25519Signature2020",
    "verificationMethod": "did:web:wia.org#key-1"
  }
}
```

## 4. Cross-Platform Portability

### 4.1 Credential Import

Standard format for importing credentials from other platforms:

**Endpoint:** `POST /credentials/import`

Supports:
- Open Badges 2.0 migration
- IMS CLR import
- Custom CSV/JSON formats

### 4.2 Credential Export

**Endpoint:** `GET /credentials/export`

**Formats:**
- Open Badges 3.0 (JSON)
- IMS CLR (JSON-LD)
- PDF certificate
- Blockchain proof

## 5. Privacy & Consent

### 5.1 Selective Disclosure

Zero-knowledge proof protocol for sharing specific credential attributes without revealing full credential:

```json
{
  "request": {
    "attributes": ["competency", "proficiencyLevel"],
    "purpose": "employment-verification",
    "requester": "employer.example.com"
  },
  "disclosure": {
    "competency": "JavaScript programming",
    "proficiencyLevel": "advanced",
    "proof": "zk_proof_value"
  }
}
```

### 5.2 Consent Management

GDPR-compliant consent protocol for data sharing.

## 6. Quality Assurance

### 6.1 Issuer Verification Protocol

Multi-stage issuer verification:
1. Legal entity verification
2. Domain ownership proof
3. Competency authority assessment
4. Quality audit

### 6.2 Credential Endorsement

Third-party endorsement protocol allowing employers, professional bodies, and institutions to endorse credentials.

## 7. Revocation & Status

### 7.1 Status List 2021

Implementation of W3C Status List 2021 for efficient revocation checking:

```json
{
  "credentialStatus": {
    "id": "https://wia.org/credentials/status/3#94567",
    "type": "StatusList2021Entry",
    "statusPurpose": "revocation",
    "statusListIndex": "94567",
    "statusListCredential": "https://wia.org/credentials/status/3"
  }
}
```

### 7.2 Expiration & Renewal

Automated renewal protocol for time-limited credentials.

## 8. Interoperability

### 8.1 Standard Mappings

- xAPI integration for learning activity streams
- SCORM compatibility layer
- LTI Advantage deep linking

### 8.2 Competency Framework Bridges

Automatic mapping between different competency frameworks:
- ESCO ↔ O*NET
- Custom frameworks ↔ WIA standard taxonomy

## 9. Security

### 9.1 Cryptographic Requirements

- Minimum Ed25519 signatures
- SHA-256 hashing
- TLS 1.3 for transport
- Key rotation every 90 days

### 9.2 Threat Mitigation

- Replay attack protection
- Man-in-the-middle prevention
- SQL injection safeguards
- XSS protection

## 10. Performance

- Verification latency: <100ms (95th percentile)
- Sync latency: <500ms
- Concurrent connections: 10,000+
- Uptime SLA: 99.9%

---

© 2025 WIA - MIT License
弘益人間 · Benefit All Humanity