Delay and Disruption Tolerant Networks: A Brief Survey

Challenged networks represent a very special class of networks characterized by widely varying network conditions such as intermittent connectivity, a heterogeneous mix of resource-constrained nodes, long and variable message communication time, bidirectional data-rate asymmetries and high failure rate of nodes. In such deployment scenarios, connectivity is not well served either by the standard Internet architecture and protocols or by popular mobile ad hoc network (MANET) and Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) protocols. Such networks are characterized by the Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN) model that uses automatic store-and-forward mechanisms to provide assured data delivery under such extreme operating conditions. In this paper, we present a brief survey on DTN architecture, routing, potential applications and future research challenges. We envision that the research outcomes on this fairly recent topic will have a profound impact on various applications including interplanetary Internet, deep space explorations and future Mars missions, Artic Observing Network (AON) to explore biological, physical, and chemical processes/changes in polar regions.