Delay-tolerant networking: an approach to interplanetary Internet

Abstract

Increasingly, network applications must communicate with counterparts across disparate networking environments characterized by significantly different sets of physical and operational constraints; wide variations in transmission latency are particularly troublesome. The proposed Interplanetary Internet [1], which must encompass both terrestrial and interplanetary links, is an extreme case. An architecture based on a "least common denominator" protocol that can operate successfully and (where required) reliably in multiple disparate environments would simplify the development and deployment of such applications. The Internet protocols are ill suited for this purpose. We identify three fundamental principles that would underlie a delaytolerant networking (DTN) architecture and describe the main structural elements of that architecture, centered on a new end-to-end overlay network protocol called Bundling. We also examine Internet infrastructure adaptations that might yield comparable performance but conclude that the simplicity of the DTN architecture promises easier deployment and extension.

Capacity Enhancement using Throwboxes in DTNs

“…DTNs can be applied to military networks [9], deep space communication [21], and everyday vehicular scenarios [25], [6]. To achieve interoperability between various types of DTNs, Fall [11] proposes an architecture that is based on an asynchronous message forwarding paradigm.…”

Peer-to-Peer Overlay in Mobile Ad-hoc Networks

“…This style of delivery carries information between intermittent communication opportunities, and might be an attractive alternative of enabling communication where it is otherwise impossible. Such communication paradigms might also be useful for other contexts such as satellites networked into an inter-planetary Internet [6] or postal service like data delivery into rural areas where communication infrastructure is not available [13]. Instead of assuming an always on connection, communication entities rather carry information between intermittent communication opportunities, leading to the opportunistic communication paradigm.…”

NC-ODTN:Ocean DTN Network Coding Protocol

“…Along with the requirement of the communication under various extreme network conditions, such as, deep-space communication [1][2][3], maritime communication [4,5], underwater communication [6,7], and communication in remote areas [8][9][10], DTN [11] gradually get more and more focus as a new network model with intermittent connectivity.…”