Architecture — R.I.C.H.O. System Architecture
Governedbydesign.Verifiableateverylayer.
The R.I.C.H.O. architecture is built for complex, multi-stakeholder enterprise environments — with clear separation of concerns, documented interfaces, explicit data boundaries, and verifiable behaviour at every layer.
This page combines deployed website components, demonstrated prototype behaviour and target production architecture. Each component is labelled with its current implementation status. Conceptual diagrams do not establish that every component is operational.
Conceptual Architecture
Five layers. Twelve components.
Each layer has a defined responsibility and explicit interfaces to adjacent layers. Structural governance constraints are a target production requirement. Current enforcement varies by deployed component and is documented in the implementation status matrix below.
Conceptual diagram. Dashed lines indicate data flow direction. Governance layer constraints apply to all downward flows.
Governance Flow
How a task moves through the system.
The target architecture defines the following intended task path — from ingestion through policy evaluation, workflow execution, human decision gates, evidence capture, and controlled output.
Request Ingestion
In a production implementation, an authorised user or system would submit a task request through the API Layer or Client Portal. The request would be authenticated, rate-limited, and assigned a unique trace ID before entering the workflow. Authentication and rate limiting are currently implemented on specific form routes.
Policy Evaluation
The proposed Governance Layer would evaluate the request against the active Policy Configuration — checking authority boundaries, data classification, and any defined blocks. Requests that fail policy evaluation would be rejected with a structured reason.
Workflow Execution
The Workflow Engine orchestrates the approved task across one or more Capability Modules. The target design records each step in an evidence store. The Model-Provider Abstraction routes AI calls to the configured provider.
Human Decision Gate
The target design requires approval-gated steps to pause until an authorised decision is recorded. Current implementation status must be shown beside this control. The proposed design records the approver identity, timestamp, and rationale.
Evidence Capture
The target design records every state transition, decision, and output in a structured evidence store. Current public demonstrations illustrate the record format. Platform-wide immutable storage and independent integrity testing are not yet established.
Output + Export
Approved outputs are delivered through controlled Export Controls. The target design requires human approval for exports and generates an audit record. Webhooks for downstream notification are a planned capability.
Component Reference
Twelve components. Defined responsibilities.
Each component has a documented role, defined inputs and outputs, and explicit governance obligations. In the target production design, no component bypasses the governance layer.
Workflow Engine
Capability ModulesOrchestrates multi-step governed workflows with state management, escalation logic, and authority enforcement at every transition.
INPUTS
Approved task request, active policy configuration, authority matrix
OUTPUTS
Structured workflow state, step logs, escalation events
Target design: cannot advance a step without a recorded authority decision at each gate. Current status: documented design.
Governance Layer
Governance + EvidenceEnforces authority boundaries, defined blocks, and human-review requirements. The proposed production design would enforce these structurally.
INPUTS
Task request, policy configuration, authority matrix
OUTPUTS
Policy evaluation result, block reason, approval requirement
Governance constraints are structural within the application layer. They are not bypassable through normal configuration.
Evidence Store
Governance + EvidenceStructured storage for workflow records, decisions, approvals, and audit trails. Target design: integrity-protected.
INPUTS
Workflow events, decision records, approval records, output records
OUTPUTS
Structured evidence records, audit trail
Target design: records are integrity-protected once written. Platform-wide immutable storage and independent integrity testing are not yet established.
Permissions Engine
Governance + EvidenceRole-based, context-aware permission management with explicit authority separation between human roles.
INPUTS
Identity token, requested action, resource context
OUTPUTS
Permission decision, authority level, scope constraints
Target design: no role can grant itself elevated permissions. Authority separation is a documented design requirement.
Audit Model
Governance + EvidenceAttributed audit logging for system events, decisions, and state transitions.
INPUTS
All system events, state transitions, user actions
OUTPUTS
Attributed audit log, completeness validation
Target design: audit records include actor identity, timestamp, and action context for every event.
API Layer
External InterfaceControlled integration interfaces with explicit data contracts, rate limiting, and authentication requirements.
INPUTS
Authenticated API requests, signed payloads
OUTPUTS
Structured responses, error codes, trace IDs
Rate limiting and authentication are implemented on specific form routes. Platform-wide API authentication is a target design requirement.
Model-Provider Abstraction
Capability ModulesProvider-agnostic AI model integration with governance constraints applied at the abstraction layer — not inside individual modules.
INPUTS
Structured prompt, model configuration, governance constraints
OUTPUTS
Model response, token usage record, provider trace
Governance constraints are applied before any model call at the application layer. The abstraction layer is not bypassable through the standard interface.
Policy Configuration
Objectives + ConstraintsStructured policy definition for authority boundaries, evidence requirements, and workflow constraints.
INPUTS
Governance requirements, authority matrix, evidence standards
OUTPUTS
Active policy set, constraint definitions, block rules
Policy changes require a documented approval process and generate an audit record.
Observability
Decision + ObservabilityComprehensive monitoring, logging, and alerting for system health, performance, and governance compliance.
INPUTS
System metrics, workflow events, governance events
OUTPUTS
Health dashboards, compliance alerts, performance metrics
Governance compliance metrics are monitored continuously and alert on deviation.
Failure Handling
Decision + ObservabilityExplicit failure modes, fallback procedures, and human escalation paths for all critical workflows.
INPUTS
Failure events, timeout conditions, error states
OUTPUTS
Escalation notifications, fallback state, failure records
All failure modes have a documented human escalation path. No silent failures.
Rollback Approach
Capability ModulesVersioned state management with documented rollback procedures for all governed workflows.
INPUTS
Rollback request, target state version, authority approval
OUTPUTS
Restored workflow state, rollback audit record
Rollback requires human authority approval and generates a full audit record.
Export Controls
External InterfaceControlled data export with human approval requirements and audit records for all exports.
INPUTS
Export request, authority approval, data classification
OUTPUTS
Approved export package, export audit record
Target production requirement: controlled exports require authorised approval and an audit record. Current public demonstrations do not expose connected-system data export.
Integration Model
Controlled integration. Explicit boundaries.
All integrations operate within defined data boundaries with explicit authentication, authorisation, and audit requirements. No integration bypasses the governance layer.
Authentication
MFA-enforced identity verification with session management and audit logging.
API Integration
RESTful APIs with explicit data contracts, rate limiting, and authentication requirements.
Data Boundaries
Explicit data classification, handling requirements, and cross-boundary controls.
Versioning
Semantic versioning for all APIs, workflows, and governance policies.
Webhooks
Event-driven integration with signature verification and delivery guarantees.
Client Portals
Controlled access portals with role-based permissions and audit logging.
Implementation Status
Component implementation matrix
Every component listed below is labelled with its current status. Green = deployed and functionally tested. Amber = partial, demonstrated or founder-tested. Blue = target architecture. Grey = planned or not yet implemented.
| COMPONENT | STATUS | PUBLICLY TESTABLE | ENFORCEMENT METHOD | LIMITATION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main public website | Live public implementation | Yes | Deployed on richosystems.technology | None |
| Live tools website | Live public implementation | Yes | Deployed on httpsrichosystems.com | Separate environment with own disclosures |
| Contact / pilot forms | Live public implementation | Yes | Rate-limited, HMAC-guarded, honeypot | No automated response commitment |
| CRM administration | Founder-tested | Admin only | Session-guarded API routes | Not independently audited |
| Authentication | Founder-tested | Admin only | BetterAuth v1.6.15 | No enterprise MFA; not independently verified |
| Rate limiting | Founder-tested | Yes (form routes) | Express middleware | Not independently load-tested |
| Input validation | Founder-tested | Yes | Server-side sanitisation | Not independently penetration-tested |
| Tool interfaces | Demonstrated prototype | Yes | Interface-restricted scope | 10 pages deployed; AI submission success not independently verified |
| AI-provider connection | Demonstrated prototype | Yes (live tools) | Single active provider | Second provider documented only; not live |
| Evidence classification | Simulated walkthrough | Demo only | Illustrated output format | Not a live classification engine |
| Workflow engine | Target production design | No | Design documentation only | Not yet implemented as running software |
| Governance layer | Target production design | No | Design documentation only | Not yet independently verified |
| Permissions engine | Target production design | No | Design documentation only | Not yet implemented |
| Approval router | Target production design | No | Design documentation only | Not yet implemented |
| Persistent evidence store | Target production design | No | Design documentation only | Not yet implemented; no tamper-evidence verified |
| Enterprise MFA | Planned | No | Not yet implemented | Target enterprise control only |
| Webhooks | Planned | No | Not yet implemented | Planned integration control |
| Client portals | Planned | No | Not yet implemented | Planned capability |
| Observability / monitoring | Planned | No | Not yet implemented | Target production requirement |
Deployment Topology
Deployment options and availability.
Deployment options are listed with their current availability status. Planned options are clearly labelled — no availability is implied beyond what is stated.
The richosystems.technology website is hosted and publicly accessible. This is the current deployed state.
Interactive demonstration environment available for structured evaluation engagements.
Managed cloud deployment design is documented. Subject to scoping and technical agreement.
Dedicated deployment for organisations with specific security or data residency requirements. Subject to scoping.
Customer-controlled private cloud deployment. Planned capability — timeline subject to evaluation requirements.
Governance is a design requirement
Authority boundaries and human-review requirements are documented design requirements. Structural governance constraints are a target production requirement. Current enforcement varies by deployed component and is documented in the implementation matrix.
Evidence is a target design requirement
Target production design: state transitions, decisions and approvals are recorded in an integrity-protected evidence store. Current demonstrations illustrate evidence formats; platform-wide tamper-evident storage and audit-completeness verification are not yet established.
Failure handling is a target requirement
Target production requirement: every material failure mode must have a documented fallback and human-escalation path. Current public error handling is limited to the implemented website, form and tool flows.
Evaluate R.I.C.H.O. architecture against your requirements.
Request a structured evaluation to assess how the R.I.C.H.O. architecture meets your technical, security, and governance requirements.
Architecture documentation is available under controlled access for qualified evaluators.