NeTS: Small: Collaborative Research: Stable and Efficient Peering Through Internet Exchange Points (IXPs)

互联网由互联网服务提供商(ISP)运营的数以万计的网络(自治系统)组成，这些网络在互联网交换点(IXP)相互交换流量，以节省传输成本并使内容更接近其消费者。IXP充当多组互联网服务提供商交换流量的巨型交换机，在当今的互联网中扮演着重要的角色，因为许多流量都通过IXP流动。在这些IXP处形成的ISP连接和对等关系的稳定性和效率对于Internet的长期可持续性和可扩展性至关重要。然而，在当前的实践中，在IXP处为业务交换支付的价格通常由可能导致业务流的端到端性能低效的粗略的静态测量来确定。该项目旨在通过经济高效的IXP服务定价以及灵活和价值驱动的ISP对等关系，改善IXP的流量交换和对等结算状态(对于非营利性和营利性IXP)。为了建立稳定和经济上有利的互联网服务提供商之间的对等关系，本项目将研究以下重要问题。首先，它将探讨如何共享IXP流量交换服务(在非营利性模式下)或如何定价(在营利性模式下)，以实现均衡的经济效益。其次，它将调查当流量之间存在显著不对称时，在IXP进行付费对等的潜在好处。最后，它将探索IXP提供商(通常在不同的托管中心运营)如何促进不同托管中心的互联网服务提供商之间的小组形成，以最大限度地提高整个地理区域的流量的整体效率。该项目预计将加强对IXP在不久的将来应该如何运营的理解，以应对流量交换中不断增加的速率和不对称，并简化对等流程并使其成为价值驱动的。它旨在改善互联网中的流量，并使内容更接近用户，从而提高流量、降低成本，并减少向最终用户交付内容的延迟。该项目的影响力和外延将通过与业界的合作以及教育和研究的整合来加强。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The Internet comprises tens of thousands of networks (Autonomous Systems) operated by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that exchange traffic with each other at Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), to save on transit costs and bring content closer to their consumers. IXPs act as giant switches for groups of ISPs to exchange traffic and have a significant role in today's Internet as much of the traffic flows through IXPs. Stability and efficiency of ISP connectivity and peering relationships that form at these IXPs are crucial to long-term sustainability and scalability of the Internet. In the current practice, however, the price paid for traffic exchange at an IXP is typically determined by coarse, static measures that can result in end-to-end performance inefficiency in the traffic flows. This project aims to improve the state of traffic exchange and peering settlements at an IXP (for both non-profit and for-profit IXPs) through economically efficient pricing of IXP services coupled with flexible and value-driven ISP peering relationships. Towards fostering stable and economically beneficial inter-ISP peering relationships, this project will investigate the following important questions. Firstly, it will explore how the IXP services for traffic exchange should be shared (in the non-profit model) or be priced (in the for-profit model) so that economic efficiency is attained at equilibrium. Secondly, it will investigate the potential benefits of paid peering at an IXP, when there is significant asymmetry between the traffic flows. Finally, it will explore how IXP providers (which typically operate at different co-location centers) can facilitate formation of groups between ISPs at different co-location centers to maximize overall efficiency of traffic flows across an entire geographical region. This project is expected to enhance the understanding on how IXPs should operate in the near future to cope with the increased rate and asymmetry in traffic exchanges, and streamline the peering process and make it value-driven. It aims to improve traffic flows in the Internet, and bring the content closer to users, resulting in higher traffic rates, lower costs, and lower delays in content delivery to end users. The project's impact and outreach will be strengthened through collaboration with industry, and integration of education with research.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.