Random Thoughts on User- Centric Networks Ioannis Psaras University College London Dagstuhl Seminar on User-Centric Nets September 2010 (some of the ideas were discussed with Lefteris Mamatas, Paulo Mendes and Rute Sofia)

Project-wise COMET: COntent Mediator architecture for content-aware nETworks –Content-X Networks, where X: aware, based, centric –Content Naming: Identify content by name –Content Resolution: Find where the content is –Content Caching: Cache where, when, what and why.. And who’s in charge of caching? Am looking into extending activities to User- Provided, User-Centric Nets

User-X Networks Initially: X = Provided –Bandwidth sharing –Broadband access sharing –In general, about network resource sharing –Pretty central role to all this plays the AP Then: X = Centric (?) –The many powers of the AP –What is an AP? –How can we exploit its presence? More active network device? 1.Storage Device? 2.Central management device of a Home Network? (What is a Home Network?)

The Initial Framework User-Provided Networks (UPNs): –Micro-providers, or home-users –Guest-, or mobile-users –Cooperative networking –Trust –Self-organization –Network resource sharing Quite some research has already been done and quite a few exciting issues still remain to be investigated

UPNs: Issues that need further research Connectivity sharing: Issues –Sharing framework Incentives to share Algorithms that implement the framework –Security –Synchronisation time before actual data is transmitted –Wireless technology issues – interference –Energy issues: power-hungry technologies – energy- limited devices –Social behaviors –Cost model Should we charge for mobile connectivity? Per person contracts?

Observations Overall: –Till now, it has all been about “Network Resource Sharing” –As mentioned, the open issues are known in this area Technical: –The main network entity of interest is the WiFi Access Point –And there are millions of them out there

Observations – Concerns So, if we solve the already known open issues, then we’ll have ubiquitous WiFi connectivity (or something similar) After all, –similar community networks are already deployed (e.g., FON) –Some operators already deploy WiFi access points to offload 3G traffic (e.g., O2 UK) –And Paris has got free WiFi all around Fine, end of research for User-Centric Networks after all this?

Challenge Millions of devices (i.e., APs) are out there at the “edges” of the network Their only job is to provide connectivity to home- and guest-users –Massive amount of “power” remains unexploited Challenge: Can we exploit the power and density of these devices otherwise? –For example, why not store/cache data? –Or, use it to setup Home Networks for Future Smart Houses? What can the potential gain be? It’s both User-Provided and User-Centric

The Access Point Fairly big in size, but no one cares. It’s not a mobile device. Could be even bigger or heavier Could fit a TB-long hard disk Could even include a processor Or multiple aerials Or whatever other thing we want..

Store or Cache Data Storing data locally can offload some of the traffic from the core of the network What kind of content can we store? –Popular –Local: local map, tourist info about restaurants, bars, pubs, attractions, local news How are neighbor APs connected? –Borrow some ideas from P2P experience? –Pub/Sub communication model? What applications can be of interest here? –Distributed, decentralised and locally managed social network platforms (e.g., Twit with Cuckoo)

Store or Cache Data Requirements – Open Issues Content has to be identified by name -> Content-Centric Networking Is the same content cached in all APs? Even if they are neighbors? –Cooperative or collective management of content caching? –Possibly complemented by cooperative routing to reach the interested (mobile- or home-)user?

Home Networks There are many devices to network – all devices in the house can be networked (from TV to the dishwasher!) And a number of applications to develop –Green networking: don’t run the dishwasher together with the WM – space them out to save on energy –Gaming: between people of the same home, or between neighbors –Distribution of common interest content among neighboring homes (local news, events) –Applications for flats of the same building block, e.g., common bills All this will trigger a whole new HomeApp market, similar to the SmartPhoneApp market

Home Networks Not that some of them are not already happening today, but they are completely decentralized and uncoordinated: –There are servers that store content of interest among people living in the same building (e.g., movies) –There are extremely smart homes that (according to Ratul Mahaja’s talk) are either extremely expensive, or are owned by extremely geeky people The AP can become the central management authority of the Home Network.

Home Networks According to Microsoft, to organize all these devices and applications you need a common operating system Can this operating system run on the AP, or another user-device? What features do we want such an OS to have?