  The main objective of the Cosmic-Ray Extremely Distributed Observatory
(CREDO) is the detection and analysis of extended cosmic ray phenomena,
so-called super-preshowers (SPS), using existing as well as new infrastructure
(cosmic-ray observatories, educational detectors, single detectors etc.). The
search for ensembles of cosmic ray events initiated by SPS is yet an untouched
ground, in contrast to the current state-of-the-art analysis, which is focused
on the detection of single cosmic ray events. Theoretical explanation of SPS
could be given either within classical (e.g., photon-photon interaction) or
exotic (e.g., Super Heavy Dark Matter decay or annihilation) scenarios, thus
detection of SPS would provide a better understanding of particle physics, high
energy astrophysics and cosmology. The ensembles of cosmic rays can be
classified based on the spatial and temporal extent of particles constituting
the ensemble. Some classes of SPS are predicted to have huge spatial
distribution, a unique signature detectable only with a facility of the global
size. Since development and commissioning of a completely new facility with
such requirements is economically unwarranted and time-consuming, the global
analysis goals are achievable when all types of existing detectors are merged
into a worldwide network. The idea to use the instruments in operation is based
on a novel trigger algorithm: in parallel to looking for neighbour surface
detectors receiving the signal simultaneously, one should also look for
spatially isolated stations clustered in a small time window.
