Technical challenges for merging opportunistic networks with respective cognitive management systems in the Future Internet

Abstract

The dawn of the Future Internet (FI) era poses new requirements to modern communication networks namely, the demand for new applications/ services, the support for diversified services, the expanded use of wireless access and the need for increased efficiency in resource provisioning and utilization. In this paper we propose a solution to address these requirements. In particular, the proposed solution is based on (i) opportunistic networks, which can be seen as operator-governed, temporary and probably infrastructure-less extensions of the infrastructure-based network, (ii) cognitive systems both for managing the opportunistic networks and for coordinating with the infrastructure, and (iii) control channels for the cooperation of the cognitive management systems. We advocate that the adoption of such a solution will bring about enhanced wireless service provision and extended access capabilities for the Future Internet, through higher resource utilization, lower costs, and management decisions with a larger “green” footprint.