Exposed Buffer Architecture for Continuum Convergence

TL;DR

Exposed Buffer Architecture proposes a new virtualization approach that separates local service virtualization from infrastructure topology hiding, creating a flexible, programmable platform for digital continuum services.

Contribution

It introduces a novel architecture that reexamines Internet virtualization, enabling independent control of service virtualization and topology abstraction.

Findings

Provides a highly general, programmable platform for transcontinuum services

Separates service virtualization from topology hiding for greater flexibility

Lays groundwork for advanced digital continuum service architectures

Abstract

Exposed Buffer Architecture addresses the problem of creating a programmable service platform for the digital continuum by reexamining the particular form of virtualization that is inherent to the Internet architecture. In the Internet stack below the Network Layer, the Link layer models services that are local to network nodes, or that connect them in local area networks. Aggregating these low level resources in the implementation of IP to create wide area services serves two different purposes: 1) It virtualizes local services, enabling interoperability through the adoption of a common model, and 2) It hides the topology of local infrastructure. The main premise of ExposedBuffer Architecture is that we can separate these two tasks, addressing the first with an invariant system model that provides a highly general, programmable platform for transcontinuum services, enabling a variety of approach to address the second.