Delay/disruption-tolerant network (DTN) network management for space networking

To ensure reliable communication in the next-generation space networks, a novel network management system is needed to support greater levels of autonomy and possess greater awareness of the environment and knowledge of assets. Toward this, we developed a security-enhanced autonomous network management approach for the space networks through network monitoring, network analysis, cross-layer negotiation, and network adaptation. In our approach, bundle-based delay/disruption-tolerant networking (DTN) is used as the underlying networking technology. Our approach allows the system to adaptively reconfigure its network elements based upon awareness of network conditions, policies, and mission requirements. Although SEANM is generically applicable to any radio network, for validation it has been prototyped and evaluated on two specific networks - a commercial off-the-shelf hardware testbed using IEEE 802.11 WiFi devices, and a military radio testbed using JTRS AN/PRC-154 Rifleman Radio platforms. Through tests, it has been shown that our solution provides autonomous network management resulting in reliable communications in the delay/disruptive prone environments.