7DS - A Modular Platform to Develop Mobile Disruption-Tolerant Applications

Abstract

Due to the low density of mobile devices or their limits in wireless radio range, a continuous network connectivity cannot be sustained in mobile disruption-tolerant networks. In these networks traditional networking models relying on end-to-end communication cease to work. These type of mobile disconnected networks can only support opportunistic, store-carry-forward communication. Furthermore, due to mobile nodes that dynamically join and leave the network the concept of a single, always-on server is unreasonable. In these scenarios, mobile users have to rely on node and service discovery and applications that cope with network disruptions. 7DS introduces a new platform to develop mobile applications for disruption-tolerant mobile networks. 7DS provides the necessary transport and application layer functionalities for mobile nodes to exchange information in store-carry-forward communication. 7DS has been developed as a modular platform that provides application developers with core underlying functionalities required for mobile disruption-tolerant communication. We discuss the primary requirements of mobile applications and introduce two new applications implemented on top of the 7DS platform. These applications assist mobile users in data and event sharing in a server-less and disconnected networking environment.