Virtual Infrastructure for Reliable Ad hoc Mobile Network Architecture

Military networks are composed of mobile nodes with different, often highly specialized mission functions and capabilities. But node mobility in a noisy, often-obstructed, adversarial communications environment causes nodes to lose contact with the network frequently and unpredictably. This SBIR proposes a Virtual Infrastructure for Reliable Ad hoc mobile (VIRAL) Network Architecture. VIRAL will be designed to provide distributed service in real time ad hoc fashion that is more scalable, robust against failure and allows synergistic use of resources. VIRAL network integrates the data centric storage approach with the distributed storage system to formulate the architecture that grants data access independent of changes in the network behavior and topology. VIRAL incorporates disruption tolerant network protocol to ensure that data is resistant to intermittent connectivity between nodes. By replicating data in multiple paths, VIRAL assures that the data is highly available even with node loss. VIRAL implements a unique authenticate and security features that would be secure from outside eavesdropping or loss of node to destruction, capture, or compromise by an enemy. Lastly, VIRAL has predefined metadata (a file that describes the contents and context of data files) and user defined metadata, so the data can be efficiently and selectively access.