NAPS: Networking and Architecture for Proactive Systems

Consortium

The research consortium was funded for 2003-2005 as part of the research programme on Proactive Computing (PROACT) of the Academy of Finland. The consortium consists of three research groups working on two subprojects.

For the subproject Algorithmics:

• The group of Dr. Patrik Floréen, Helsinki Institute for Information Technology HIIT, Basic Research Unit; consortium coordinator
• The group of Prof. Pekka Orponen, Helsinki University of Technology, Laboratory for Theoretical Computer Science

For the subproject Traffic Management:

• The group of Prof. Jorma Virtamo, Helsinki University of Technology, Networking Laboratory

In addition, the research group of Prof. Hannu H. Kari, Helsinki University of Technology, Laboratory for Theoretical Computer Science is affiliated to the project.

Background

The development of proactive computing applications will place hard demands on the networking infrastructure. There will be a large number of intercommunicating devices (nodes), which in most of the purported applications will be mobile, energy-constrained, and prone to unexpected malfunctions. In some cases, it may be possible to have a centralized traffic management scheme, but it is equally likely that the nodes will have to carry out the decision making locally based on local and incomplete information of the network environment. In the future, the most common scenario is likely to be a hybrid of local and global management options, which will need to be combined in an efficient way.

Current network algorithms and protocols are not very well adapted to such a dynamic operational environment, and developing the necessary infrastructure to support effective and reliable proactive computing applications will require a lot of innovative research. The novel challenge of the complex, dynamic environment also provides a scientifically intriguing opportunity to combine diverse mathematical and algorithmic techniques for the best possible results. The techniques that will need to be developed to solve these problems will necessarily be of a general nature, and are likely to have significance also beyond the specific application area of efficient ad hoc networking.

The research project, aimed at developing fundamental networking infrastructure techniques and architecture to address the above mentioned issues, consists of two subprojects: Algorithmics and Traffic Management.

Publicity

The scientific results will be reported at conferences and in journals, as well as in the form of theses by the students. The research is integrated with the education: At least one seminar will be arranged each year related to the research topics of the consortium. The research results will be disseminated in an annual public seminar.

You will find information about the publications and teaching under the subprojects Algorithmics and Traffic Management.