Opportunistic communication for delay tolerant data delivery in Milan

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Bujari, Armir^{a; *} | De Giovanni, Luigi^a | Maggiorini, Dario^b | Palazzi, Claudio E.^a | Pozza, Matteo^a | Quadri, Christian^b | Ripamonti, Laura A.^b

Affiliations: [a] Department of Mathematics, University of Padua, Via Trieste 63, 35123 Padua (PD), Italy. E-mails: abujari@math.unipd.it, luigi@math.unipd.it, cpalazzi@math.unipd.it, mpozza@math.unipd.it | [b] Department of Computer Science, University of Milan, via Comelico 39, I-20135 Milan, Italy. E-mails: dario@di.unimi.it, quadri@di.unimi.it, ripamonti@di.unimi.it

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author. E-mail: abujari@math.unipd.it.

Abstract: WiFi-enabled buses of the Public Transportation System (PTS) may be employed as the backbone of a metropolitan delay tolerant network that exploits ad hoc connectivity and predictable bus mobility to deliver non-real time information. In this paper, we discuss and study the feasibility of a Mobile Delay Tolerant Networking (MDTN) solution deployed over an actual PTS to provide service opportunistic connectivity. Our solution follows an opportunistic carrier-based approach where buses act as data collectors for users’ requests involving Internet access. Obtained results demonstrate that MDTN represents a viable approach able to provide delay-tolerant service access. To support our claim, we have carried out a set of simulations considering MDTN coupled with state of the art routing protocols deployed over a near-to-real scenario: the PTS of Milan, Italy.

Keywords: Opportunistic communications, Delay Tolerant Networks, vehicular networks, urban scenario

DOI: 10.3233/AIS-170443

Journal: Journal of Ambient Intelligence and Smart Environments, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 521-533, 2017