BPTAP: A new approach toward IP over DTN

A prototype virtual Ethernet driver (BPTAP) has been written which runs atop the ION (Interplanetary Overlay Network) implementation of the DTN (Delay/Disruption Tolerant Network) protocol. This driver has the potential to expedite DTN deployment by providing a transition mechanism for legacy IP (Internet Protocol) applications to run alongside delay and disruption tolerant applications in future large-scale communication networks. By presenting an Ethernet-like interface, BPTAP gives application developers access to many of the benefits of DTN without having to become immediately proficient at a new programming API. Under certain conditions, some unmodified IP applications may even exhibit superior performance when running under BPTAP than the native operating environment. Performance measurements arc presented for several applications.