Enabling a Data-Centric Battlefield Through Information Access Gateways

Network disruptions are common in tactical networks due to a number of factors including node mobility, unfavorable RF conditions, and adversarial attacks. Even under normal network conditions, tactical links are typically characterized by their low bandwidth and high delay. Most tactical data is exchanged over TCP/IP networks and TCP/IP's host- centric approach to networking is typically challenged under such network conditions [1]. Named Data Networks on the other hand offers an alternate approach to networking, namely a data- centric approach, which has been shown to provide superior efficiency and resilience in disrupted and low-bandwidth network environments. This is due to NDN's in-network caching, stateful forwarding, and loop-free multipath forwarding services which enable efficient use of bandwidth and tolerance to disruption. In this paper, we introduce Information Access Gateways (IAGs), a network component that enables a data-centric battlefield. IAGs are NDN and IP aware components that enable seamless integration of non-NDN applications into NDN networks while offering these applications name-based services such as synchronization (for applications that adopt a group communication model) and access control (to regulate information flow across the network). We describe the different services offered by an IAG and discuss how each can be applied to a notional tactical network environment.