A Proposal for an Open Logistics Interconnection Reference Model for a Physical Internet

TL;DR

This paper introduces the NOLI reference model for Physical Internet logistics, inspired by OSI and TCP/IP models, emphasizing layered definitions of physical objects and container operations.

Contribution

It proposes a new layered NOLI model for Physical Internet logistics, differing from previous models in object definitions and container operation placement.

Findings

NOLI model aligns more closely with OSI and TCP/IP models.

Containerization is placed in the topmost layer in NOLI.

NOLI maintains the integrity of the Link Layer and separates Session and Transport layers.

Abstract

This paper presents a New Open Logistics Interconnection (NOLI) reference model for a Physical Internet, inspired by the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model for data networks. This NOLI model is compared to the OSI model, and to the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) model of Internet. It is also compared to the OLI model for a Physical Internet proposed by Montreuil. The main differences between the presented NOLI model and all the other models named above are in the appearance of definitions of physical objects in different layers and not just the lowest one. Also, the NOLI model we present locates the containerization and de-containerization operations in the topmost layer, and not in the layer below as does the OLI model. Finally, the NOLI model is closer to the TCP/IP and OSI models than the OLI model, keeping the integrity of the Link Layer that the OLI model divides in two layers, and keeping separate the Session and Transport OSI Layers that the OLI model unites in just one layer.