Dirk Kutscher

A survey of information-centric networking

The information-centric networking (ICN) concept is a significant common approach of several future Internet research activities. The approach leverages in-network caching, multiparty communication through replication, and interaction models decoupling senders and receivers. The goal is to provide a network infrastructure service that is better suited to today¿s use (in particular. content distribution and mobility) and more resilient to disruptions and failures. The ICN approach is being explored by a number of research projects. We compare and discuss design choices and features of proposed ICN architectures, focusing on the following main components: named data objects, naming and security, API, routing and transport, and caching. We also discuss the advantages of the ICN approach in general.

Drive-thru Internet: IEEE 802.11b for "automobile" users

This paper reports on measurement results for the use of IEEE 802.11 networks in drive-thru scenarios: we have measured transmission characteristics for sending and receiving high data volumes using UDP and TCP in vehicles moving at different speeds that pass one or more IEEE 802.11 access points at the roadside. We discuss possibilities and limitations for the use of scattered WLAN cells by devices in fast moving vehicles and provide an analysis of the performance that can he expected for the communication in such scenarios. Based on these observations, we discuss implications for higher-layer protocols and applications.

Network of Information (NetInf) - An information-centric networking architecture

Information-centric networking (ICN) is a promising approach to networking that has the potential to provide better - more natural and more efficient - solutions for many of todays important communication applications including but not limited to large-scale content distribution. This article describes the Network of Information (NetInf) architecture - a specific ICN approach that targets global-scale communication and supports many different types of networks and deployments, including traditional Internet access/core network configurations, data centers, as well as challenged and infrastructure-less networks. NetInfs approach to connecting different technology and administrative domains into a single information-centric network is based on a hybrid name-based routing and name resolution scheme. In this article, we describe the most important requirements that motivated the NetInf design. We present an architecture overview and discuss the different architecture elements such as naming, message forwarding, caching, and a name resolution service (NRS) in detail. As efficient caching and a scalable NRS are two main success factors, we present an evaluation of both elements based on a theoretical analysis, complemental simulation results, and prototyping results. The results suggest that a scalable NRS for 10^1^5 and more objects with resolution latencies (well) below 100ms is possible, implying that a global Network of Information that removes the need for todays application-specific overlay solutions is feasible.

Integrating DTN and MANET routing

Mobile Ad-hoc Network (MANET) routing protocols aim at establishing end-to-end paths between communicating nodes and thus support end-to-end semantics of existing transports and applications. In contrast, DTN-based communication schemes imply asynchronous communication (and thus often require new applications) but achieve better reachability, particularly in sparsely populated environments. In this paper, we suggest a hybrid scheme that combines AODV and DTN-based routing and allows keeping the AODV advantage of maintaining end-to-end semantics whenever possible while, at the same time, also offering DTN-based communication options whenever available---leaving the choice to the application. We present our protocol and system design, particularly including the interaction of AODV and DTN, demonstrate achievable performance gains based upon measurements, and report on initial experiments with our implementation in an emulation environment.

Self-organized energy efficient cellular networks

Base stations (BSs) are the main energy expenditure elements of cellular networks, considering the high coverage requirements and the fact that the total provisioned capacity is intended to match peak hour traffic demand. In this paper, we introduce energy saving algorithms based on coordination between network elements. We introduce the notion of energy partitions - associations of powered-on and powered-off BSs - to deliver energy saving with the objective of matching offered capacity with the traffic demand in a flexible manner. Our energy saving algorithms are based on shared knowledge of load and coverage information and enable an appropriate cell reconfiguration for achieving a network-level energy saving. Through a simulation-based evaluation, we analyze the performance of centralized and distributed algorithms under different network topologies and traffic conditions, highlight the benefits and drawbacks, and provide recommendations for deployment scenarios.

Self Organized Network Management Functions for Energy Efficient Cellular Urban Infrastructures

Energy efficiency is a significant requirement for the design and management of mobile networks and has recently gained substantial attention from both network operators and the research community. The general concept of energy saving management aims to match the capacity offered by operators to the actual demand at given times and geographic areas. This paper introduces the notion of energy partition, an association of powered-on and powered-off BSs to deliver network-level energy saving. It then elaborates how such concept is applied to perform energy re-configuration to flexibly re-act to load variations encouraging none or minimal extra energy consumption. A simulation-based study evaluates the performance of the proposed algorithms under different network topologies and traffic conditions, highlights the benefits and drawbacks, and provides recommendations for deployment scenarios.

Towards automated authentication for mobile users in WLAN hot-spots

This paper presents an automated user authentication mechanism for WLAN hot-spots that is intended for mobile usage scenarios. Based upon cues from access points and hot-spot infrastructures, we detect availability of hot-spots, deduce the access method and the wireless ISPs identity, and finally perform authentication taking into account user policies. Our approach enables users to authenticate with a hot-spot within a few seconds, enabling their use even from passing vehicles. While our current implementation works with some hot-spots, we have discovered others that are not well-suited for the current scheme. As mid-term remedy, we finally suggest service announcements to inform mobile users about hot-spot capabilities.

Enabling Information Centric Networking in IP Networks Using SDN

In this paper, we show how to enable Information- Centric Networking (ICN) on existing IP networks, such as ISP or data center networks, using Software-Defined Networking (SDN) functions and control. We describe a mechanism that (i) enables addressing and transfer through non-SDN controlled networks (i. e., the Internet), (ii) allows to identify ICN requests and responses, (iii) decouples forwarding from the object name, (iv) requires neither new or extended network/L3 and transport/L4 protocols nor changes of client and server OS, and (v) supports aggregation of routes inside the SDN controlled network. In addition, the proposed solution is agnostic of the specific ICN protocol in use, and does not require all network elements to be SDN-enabled. It supports advanced ICN routing features like request aggregation and forking, as well as loadbalancing, traffic engineering, and explicit path steering (e. g., through ICN caches). We present the design as well as our first implementation of the proposed scheme-based on the Trema OpenFlow controller-framework and CCNx-along with initial performance measurements showing the feasibility of our approach.

Efficient Publish/Subscribe-Based Multicast for Opportunistic Networking with Self-Organized Resource Utilization

This paper presents a publish/subscribe-based multicast distribution infrastructure for DTN-based opportunistic networking environments. The distribution approach is designed to combine an effective distribution of content to interested nodes in the presence of resource constraints, mobility and unstable connectivity. By considering local resource constraints such as limited storage space and limited available bandwidth at opportunistic contacts as well as knowledge about interest for content in the network environment, nodes make local decisions about resource utilization and DTN bundle prioritization. Without further coordination, this approach uses the overall available network resources more effectively compared to other approaches such as epidemic forwarding. We have implemented this approach and have performed a series of measurements in mobile opportunistic networking scenarios under different configurations.

Dynamic energy-aware network re-configuration for cellular urban infrastructures

Energy saving management aims to match the capacity offered by operators to the actual traffic demand at off-peak times when the network load under-utilizes the maximum capacity dimension. Such a process is relatively complex in cellular infrastructures since mobility and user activity patterns may create load fluctuations. This paper introduces energy-aware network re-configuration methods to flexibly re-act to load variations encouraging none or minimal extra energy consumption. A simulation-based study evaluates the performance of the proposed schemes considering the network service quality and energy cost.