A layered architecture for Vehicular Delay-Tolerant Networks

Vehicular Delay-Tolerant Network (VDTN) is a new network architecture based on the concept of Delay Tolerant Networks (DTN). It aims to be an architecture that handles non-real time applications at low cost, under unreliable conditions, enabling connectivity in diverse scenarios, using vehicles to carry data between terminal nodes. For example, it can be applied in rural and remote areas, or in emergency scenarios. This paper proposes a layered architecture for VDTNs, using out-of-band signaling, based on the separation of the control plane and data plane. It presents the layers interactions and the envisioned protocols required at each layer. The paper provides a deep understanding of the characteristics of VDTN and reveal some design issues in its modeling, leading to insights for future theoretic study and protocol design.