Data Dissemination in Opportunistic Networks

TL;DR

This paper surveys data dissemination techniques in opportunistic networks, categorizing their capabilities and analyzing their approaches to facilitate data exchange in dynamic, contact-based mobile environments.

Contribution

It introduces a taxonomy for classifying data dissemination techniques in opportunistic networks and applies it to analyze existing methods.

Findings

Provides a structured taxonomy for data dissemination techniques.

Analyzes various techniques based on the taxonomy.

Highlights challenges like privacy and incentives in opportunistic data sharing.

Abstract

Mobile devices integrating wireless short-range communication technologies make possible new applications for spontaneous communication, interaction and collaboration. An interesting approach is to use collaboration to facilitate communication when mobile devices are not able to establish direct communication paths. Opportunistic networks, formed when mobile devices communicate with each other while users are in close proximity, can help applications still exchange data in such cases. In opportunistic networks routes are built dynamically, as each mobile device acts according to the store-carry-and-forward paradigm. Thus, contacts between mobile devices are seen as opportunities to move data towards destination. In such networks data dissemination is done using forwarding and is usually based on a publish/subscribe model. Opportunistic data dissemination also raises questions concerning user privacy and incentives. Such problems are addressed differently by various opportunistic data dissemination techniques. In this paper we analyze existing relevant work in the area of data dissemination in opportunistic networks. We present the categories of a proposed taxonomy that captures the capabilities of data dissemination techniques used in such networks. Moreover, we survey relevant data dissemination techniques and analyze them using the proposed taxonomy.