CellNet:A bottom-up approach to network design

The ever-increasing dependence on the Internet is challenged by several factors impeding the smooth transition to the nomadic and ubiquitous future communications. These hindering factors are primarily attributed to the top-down approach in designing computer networks that resulted in adopting a layered architecture for abstracting network functionalities as well as for engineering protocols; a methodology that proved to be neither adaptable nor evolvable in response to changes in network operational requirements and technological advancements. This paper presents a bottom-up1 strategy for designing computer networks through i)the formalization of network design core principles, ii)the derivation of a conceptual framework for network concerns and a structural model for network building elements inspired by natural complex systems, thus introducing the Network Cell which is the network elementary building block intrinsically capable of specialization, adaptation and evolution, and iii) finally, a Cell-based network realization. Cell-based network adaptation capabilities are evaluated through simulations. Results show the awareness of UDP and TCP to path delays and the possibility of tweaking their operation accordingly. ©2009 IEEE.