DragonNet: A robust mobile Internet service system for long distance trains

Abstract

Wide range wireless networks often suffer from annoying service deterioration due to fickle wireless environment. This is especially the case with passengers on long distance train (LDT) to connect onto the Internet. To improve the service quality of wide range wireless networks, we present the DragonNet protocol with its implementation. The DragonNet system is a chained gateway which consists of a group of interlinked DragonNet routers working specifically for mobile chain transport systems. The protocol makes use of the spatial diversity of wireless signals that not all spots on a surface see the same level of radio frequency radiation. In the case of a LDT of around 500 meters, it is highly possible that some of the spanning routers still see sound signal quality, when the LDT is partially blocked from wireless Internet. DragonNet protocol fully utilizes this feature to amortize single point router failure over the whole router chain by intelligently rerouting traffics on failed ones to sound ones. We have implemented the DragonNet system and tested it in real railways over a period of three months. Our results have pinpointed two fundamental contributions of DragonNet protocol. First, DragonNet significantly reduces average temporary communication blackout (i.e. no Internet connection) to 1.5 seconds compared with 6 seconds that without DragonNet protocol. Second, DragonNet efficiently doubles the aggregate throughput on average.