SSDNet: Small-World Super-Dense Device-to-Device Wireless Networks

In this article, we propose a novel networking paradigm called Small-world SSDNet, servicing applications such as public safety, proximity based services, and fog computing based on device-todevice multi-hop wireless communications. The "small-world" feature is determined by the service area, whose size is usually within a community level, and the well known small-world properties existing in SSDNets; the "super-dense" feature comes from the fact that the increased direct communication range and the popularity of 5G and IoT devices jointly result in a large number of devices within a single-hop communication range. This article first formally defines SSDNet. Then the challenges and the opportunities brought by the design and the implementation of the SSDNet protocols and applications are addressed. Finally, the broader discussions on issues relevant to modeling, engineering, and dissemination are provided.