# 10. Protocol Components

RouterLink separates **traffic routing**, **state registration**, and **economic settlement**:

## Gateway

* Primary entry point for users/applications
* Receives signed AI requests
* Selects routing paths based on protocol data
* Does not make discretionary decisions

## Registries

On-chain registries manage:

* Node registration and status
* Service provider listings
* Published pricing weights
* Protocol parameters

## $WAI Vault

Distributes $WAI at regular intervals to:

* Service providers (based on usage)
* Node operators (based on routing/validation work)
* Delegators (based on stake alignment)

**No single component controls the full lifecycle of AI requests.**


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.world3.ai/world3/routerlink-litepaper/10.-protocol-components.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.