Delay- and Disruption-Tolerant Networking (DTN): An Alternative Solution for Future Satellite Networking Applications

Abstract

Satellite communications are characterized by long delays, packet losses, and sometimes intermittent connectivity and link disruptions. The TCP/IP stack is ineffective against these impairments and even dedicated solutions, such as performance enhancing proxies (PEPs), can hardly tackle the most challenging environments, and create compatibility issues with current security protocols. An alternative solution arises from the delayand disruption-tolerant networking (DTN) architecture, which specifies an overlay protocol, called bundle protocol (BP), on top of either transport protocols (TCP, UDP, etc.), or of lower layer protocols (Bluetooth, Ethernet, etc.). The DTN architecture provides long-term information storage on intermediate nodes, suitable for coping with disrupted links, long delays, and intermittent connectivity. By dividing the end-to-end path into multiple DTN hops, in a way that actually extends the TCPsplitting concept exploited in most PEPs, DTN allows the use of specialized protocols on the satellite (or space) links. This paper discusses the prospects for use of DTN in future satellite networks. We present a broad DTN overview, to make the reader familiar with the characteristics that differentiate DTN from ordinary TCP/IP networking, compare the DTN and PEP architectures and stacks, as a preliminary step for the subsequent DTN performance assessment carried out in practical LEO/ GEO satellite scenarios. DTN security is studied next, examining the advantages over present satellite architectures, the threats faced in satellite scenarios, and also open issues. Finally, the relation between DTN and quality of service (QoS) is investigated, by focusing on QoS architectures and QoS tools and by discussing the state of the art of DTN research activity in modeling, routing, and congestion control.

A New Survey on Improving TCP Performances over Geostationary Satellite Link

“…Furthermore, by introducing a sliding window, DTN performance is boosted and eventually the best. The DTN solution have been more recently discussed in Caini et al (2011) which confirms previously observed trends. Furthermore this paper studies DTN security.…”

A Security Scheme to Mitigate Denial of Service Attacks in Delay Tolerant Networks

“…Communication impairments are overcome using replication, parallel forwarding and error correction techniques. DTN as a networking concept and architecture was proposed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) with pioneering work on the Interplanetary Network (IPN) [3]. DTN has gained popularity over the years with several research in areas such as the Interplanetary Networks (IPNs) for space and satellite communication [3], Airborne Networks (ANs) [4], Delay-Tolerant Sensor Networks [5], Vehicular Ad hoc Networks [6], Underwater Networks (UWNs) [7] and Pocket-Switched Networks (PSNs) [8].…”

“…DTN as a networking concept and architecture was proposed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) with pioneering work on the Interplanetary Network (IPN) [3]. DTN has gained popularity over the years with several research in areas such as the Interplanetary Networks (IPNs) for space and satellite communication [3], Airborne Networks (ANs) [4], Delay-Tolerant Sensor Networks [5], Vehicular Ad hoc Networks [6], Underwater Networks (UWNs) [7] and Pocket-Switched Networks (PSNs) [8]. A number of research works have been carried out and are still on-going in DTN routing [9], congestion control/buffer management [10], convergence layer design [11], application layer design [12], and flow control [13] but very little on DTN security.…”

A Simulation module of NS3 for DTN with Time-space model based Routing

“…Some institutes, specifically, Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) and Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) contributes many efforts to create a standard way to solve these problems. As the result of their effort, Delay-and-disruption tolerant networking (DTN) [2] series of protocols are published, intended to become the best solution for communication in space network [3].…”