Internet-of-things (IoT) device reference network

A method of operating a reference network comprising a plurality of Internet-of-things (IoT) devices, comprising:

• receiving a reference participation request by a first IoT device from a second IoT device, where the reference participation request comprises an identity of the second IoT device and an authorization to monitor events generated by the second IoT device and to store information pertaining to the monitored events;
• detecting an event generated by the second IoT device by the first IoT device;
• storing a record by the first IoT device about the event generated by the second IoT device;
• receiving a first reference ration by the first IoT device;
• adding the first reference ration by the first IoT device to a reference ration account of the first IoT device;
• receiving a request by the first IoT device to provide a reference on the second IoT device;
• determining by the first IoT device that the reference ration account of the first IoT device has a value that exceeds a threshold value;
• generating a reference on the second IoT device by the first IoT device based on a plurality of records about events generated by the second IoT device;
• and
• transmitting the reference on the second IoT device by the first IoT device.

A method of operating a reference network comprising a plurality of Internet-of-things (IoT) devices, comprising:

• monitoring reference activities of a plurality of IoT devices in a reference network by a first IoT device, wherein the monitoring comprises detecting events of reference rations being delivered to the IoT devices in the reference network and detecting events of references being transmitted by the IoT devices;
• based on monitoring the reference activities of the IoT devices in the reference network, maintaining a reference ration account balance by the first IoT device for each of the IoT devices in the reference network;
• based on monitoring the reference activities of a second IoT device in the reference network, determining by the first IoT device that the second IoT device transmits a reference while the reference ration account balance of the second IoT device is below a threshold value;
• and
• transmitting a report by the first IoT device, where the report identifies the second IoT device, identifies the reference transmitted by the second IoT device, and identifies the value of the reference ration account balance of the second IoT device at the time the second IoT device transmitted the reference.