Leveraging social network theories to address data delivery issues in mobile ad hoc networks

我们建议研究在移动社交网络环境中能够可靠地加速端到端数据传输的通信协议的跨层设计问题。由于此类协议的性能与用户的社会关系和运动模式密切相关，因此我们的首要任务将是为社交网络环境中的人类交互开发一个现实的移动模型。事实证明，以前提出的模型一般都是基于与人类行为相反的随机行走移动模型，因此其有效性值得怀疑。为了解决这个问题，我们打算利用众所周知的社交网络概念和之前在人类移动性建模方面的工作来提出一个现实的模型。我们将使用来自大规模人类流动模式研究的经验数据来测试我们模型的有效性，例如麻省理工学院的现实挖掘项目。接下来，我们将继续设计和开发一个跨层通信协议，其中一个新的社交方面层与标准OSI协议栈的所有7层交互，以促进延迟容忍网络中的数据传输。我们的结果将在无法保证持续端到端连接的移动社交网络环境中实现端到端数据传输。从长远来看，我们建议将我们的研究扩展到普适计算环境中的社交网络问题。我们打算研究人类携带的智能移动设备的社交训练问题。我们将这些设备称为社交守护者，我们相信它们在低成本持续医疗监测、搜救行动以及恶劣环境中的通信方面具有重要的实际应用。

We propose to investigate the problem of cross layer design of communication protocols that can reliably expedite end-to-end delivery of data in a mobile social network environment. Since the performance of such protocols is closely related to users' social relationships and movement patterns, our first task will be to develop a realistic mobility model for human interactions in a social networking context. As it turns out, previously proposed models are generally based on random walk mobility models which are contrary to human behavior, and as such their validity is suspect. To address this problem, we intend to leverage well known social networking concepts and previous work in modeling of human mobility to come up with a realistic model. We will test the validity of our model by using empirical data from large scale studies of human mobility patterns such as MIT's Reality Mining project. Next, we will proceed to design and develop a cross layer communication protocol where a novel social aspects layer interacts with all 7 layers of the standard OSI protocol stack in order to facilitate data delivery in a delay tolerant network. Our results will enable end-to-end delivery of data in a mobile social network environment where continuous end-to-end connectivity cannot be guaranteed. In the longer term, we propose to extend our investigations into social networking problems in pervasive computing settings. We intend to research the problem of social training of intelligent mobile devices carried by humans. We call these devices sociable guardians and we believe them to have important practical applications in low cost continuous medical monitoring, search and rescue operations and communications in hostile environments.