NeTS-FIND: A Swarming Architecture for Internet Data Transfer

数据传输是网络的一项定义任务。这个名为usarm的项目提出了一种新颖的数据传输体系结构，灵感来自于最近取得巨大成功的群集系统，如BitTorrent。该项目追求以下颇具探索性的问题：集群能否构成未来互联网通用数据传输体系结构的基础？如果是，什么是合适的体系结构？众所周知，具有类群特性的自然系统无论对个人还是对整个系统都是非常健壮的。技术动机是使互联网数据传输：1)可扩展，2)容错，3)激励兼容，这三个特性是使用现有解决方案难以实现的。USWORM的研究将：1)开发一种类似BitTorrent的网络内底层，几乎交付所有的数据，而不仅仅是大文件；2)利用网络内的存储和数据访问的局部性；3)分析一个大型集成群体的可用性和人类等待时间的改善，而不是BitTorrent式的孤立群体；4)分析新的流量工程节点和路径选择；5)为集成群体设计新的激励策略，考虑网络级激励问题；6)使用博弈论技术分析自私行为与路由和拥塞控制的交互作用。更广泛的影响：如果成功，该项目将通过以下方式从根本上改善互联网数据传输：1)抵御拒绝信息攻击的关键信息传播；2)容忍延迟的网络应用；3)新型社交网络应用。拟议的工作包括与拟议的研究活动相结合的本科生以及国际教学和外联活动。

Data transfer is a defining task of a network. This project, uswarm, proposes a novel data-transfer architecture inspired by recent, tremendously successful swarming systems such as BitTorrent. The project pursues the following, rather exploratory, question: can swarms form the basis of a universal data-transfer architecture for a future Internet and if so, what is an appropriate architecture? Natural systems with swarm-like properties are known to be extremely robust both for an individual and for the system as a whole. The technical motivation is to make Internet data transfer: 1) scalable, 2) fault-tolerant, and 3) incentive-compatible, a trio of properties difficult to achieve using existing solutions. The research underlying uswarm will: 1) develop an in-network BitTorrent-like substrate deliver practically all data, not just large files, 2) exploit in-network storage and locality of data accesses, 3) analyze availability and human wait-time improvements of one large integrated swarm as opposed to BitTorrent-like isolated swarms, 4) analyze new traffic engineering knobs and routing choice naturally enabled by uswarm, 5) develop novel incentive strategies for integrated swarms accounting for network-level incentive issues, 6) analyze the interaction of selfish behavior with routing and congestion control using game-theoretic techniques. Broader Impact: If successful, this project will fundamentally improve Internet data transfer by enabling: 1) critical information dissemination resistant to denial-of-information attacks, 2) delay-tolerant network applications, and 3) novel social networking applications. The proposed work includes undergraduate as well as international teaching and outreach activities integrated with the proposed research activities.