RequestforInformation

NovelMethodsforInformationSharinginLargescaleMobileAdhoc Networks

DARPASN1335
April30,2013

DefenseAdvancedResearchProjectsAgency 675NorthRandolphStreet Arlington,VA222032114

RequestforInformation(RFI) NovelMethodsforInformationSharinginLargeScaleMobileAdhocNetworks 1.Introduction

Are large scale Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANET) possible? If so, what problems does the industry have to solve and what software needs to be developed? DARPAs goal is to field MANETs with 10005000 nodes. But it is difficult to field a MANET with 50 nodes. Why is this? DARPA plans to host a symposium to explore this question. Over the last two decades DARPA and other government organizations have sponsored dozens of research projects trying to develop MANET software. Many have toiled with the problem, but there is still no solution. Most prior work has attempted to extend the Internet into the MANET. Some believe that with just a little more work on the current approach they can increase the maximum size of the MANET. Others believe that large scale MANETs are impossible. A completely different tack is soughta postulate is that the MANET environment is fundamentally incompatible with underlying concepts of the Internet, such as routing, link reliability, end-to-end connectivity, high stability, opaque packets, source addressing, fixed infrastructure, and client-server distribution patterns. Rather than continuing on the quest for Internet compatibility, DARPA seeks to foster radical new networking protocols developed directly for the MANET environment. Compatibility with existing networking protocols is not required; it may even be detrimental. DARPA asks you to take a new look at the MANET problem, unencumbered by existing protocols. Start with a clean slate, informed by experience and previous research but free from any constraints or restrictions. All software from the hardware interface to the applications is open for discussion. Even the desirability of network layers may be debated. Compatibility with any existing software, protocols, or concepts is not required. What should the MANET protocols do to support the information sharing needs of the users? DARPA seeks protocols that take advantage of features of the MANET environmentbroadcast radios, high information correlation between peers, duplicity of roles, and many-to-many distribution patterns and that overcome the difficultiesinterference, unreliability, and range limitations. It may also be advantageous to explore the use of protocols that blend MANET operations with the capabilities of mobile, semi-mobile, or transient support platforms being developed by DARPA. With these platforms, broadcast, sector cast, and asymmetric communications may be available and useful. It may be useful to take a moment to say what this symposium is not about. It is not about redesigning or rearchitecting the Internet; there are other ongoing efforts focused here. It is not about developing protocols for use in commercial applications or in areas with well supported, ubiquitous infrastructure. Specifically, this RFI is not looking for investigation of or extensions to well supported commercial protocols, such as WiFi, 3G/4G LTE, WiMax, or Bluetooth. This symposium is not about configuring or tweaking existing protocols or about partitioning the network into smaller pieces with a hierarchical structure managed by existing protocols. This symposium is not about developing communication hardware; however understanding the expected or required capabilities of the hardware is important. Papers on theory, protocols, and emulation and validation are encouraged. Discussions are sought about

Novel Methods for Information Sharing in Large-scale Mobile Ad-hoc Networks RFI

interesting problems as well as potential solutions. New concepts and aggressive ideas are encouraged.

2.Symposium
DARPA intends to hold the Novel Methods for Information Sharing in Large-Scale Mobile Ad-hoc Networks Symposium on August 7-8, 2013 at the DARPA Conference Center, 675 North Randolph Street, Arlington, Virginia 22203. The symposium is organized as a two-day event. Selected research presentations are presented on the first day. DARPA expects approximately 12 to 15, 20-minute presentations; however, the final organization and schedule of the symposium depends on the type, quantity, and quality of the offered abstracts. On the second day, symposium participants break into three working groups to discuss ideas and formulate a list of potential research ideas and directions. DARPA intends to have Government personnel moderate the working groups. The working groups will document their findings in a presentation to be presented to the entire symposium and published on the Symposium web site. The entire symposium reconvenes in the afternoon to hear the findings of the working groups. At this time, working groups are expected in the areas of Theory, Protocols, and Emulation and Validation. DARPAs intention is to make all materials received and generated at the Symposium available to the general public at a future time.

3.CallforParticipation
DARPA requests abstracts of presentations for the Symposium. Presentations may be on any topic consistent with the Symposium subject as described in Section 1. You must submit an abstract in order to be considered to attend the Symposium. Presentations are intended to be openly published. Presentations should be unclassified and should not contain any proprietary information. Abstracts should be less than one page and concisely describe the ideas to be presented in the final presentation. Please indicate on your abstract the subtopic area from one of the following: Theory, Protocols, or Emulation and Validation. Abstracts are due by May 24, 2013. Abstracts sent in response to DARPA-SN-13-35 must be submitted via the Symposium email inbox, DARPA-SN-13-35@darpa.mil. Those submitting abstracts containing proprietary information may encrypt submissions by following the directions below. The encryption step is optional and not required for abstract submission. Abstracts submitted electronically can be encrypted using WinZip or PKZip with 256-bit AES encryption. An email must also be submitted separately with the encryption password at the time of abstract submission. Note the word PASSWORD must appear in the subject line of the above email. Failure to provide the encryption password may result in the abstract not being evaluated. All administrative correspondence and questions on this solicitation, including requests for information

Novel Methods for Information Sharing in Large-scale Mobile Ad-hoc Networks RFI

on how to submit an abstract, should be directed to the administrative addresses below; e-mail is preferred. DARPA/STO ATTN: DARPA-SN-13-35 675 North Randolph Street Arlington, VA 22203-2114 Email: DARPA-SN-13-35@darpa.mil Office Website: http://www.darpa.mil/sto DARPA intends to select a smaller set of abstracts for further presentation at the Symposium based on their value to the government in clarifying the potential research issues, problems, and questions that may arise in pursuing the goal of fielding large-scale MANETs. The Symposium is about novel and revolutionary approaches; abstracts that propose new ideas will be more highly regarded than ones that propose to work within existing constraints. Abstracts do not have to propose solutions; as stated in Section 1, DARPA is also interested in interesting formulations of the problem statement that could help guide future research efforts. DARPA intends to notify submitters of abstract acceptance and request a presentation by email on or before June 21, 2013. Be sure to include your correct email address with your submission. Final presentations must be prepared and submitted to DARPA by August 2, 2013. All accepted presentations will be published on the Symposium web site, although because of time constraints, only a selected subset may be presented on August 7, 2013. Presentations are intended to be openly published. Presentations should be unclassified and should not contain any proprietary information. DARPA reserves the right to reject final presentations if they are deemed to not reflect the accepted abstract or for any other reason.

4.Registration
The Novel Methods for Information Sharing in Large-Scale Mobile Ad-hoc Networks Symposium is by invitation only. DARPA intends to invite participants based on the quality and content of the submitted abstracts. Invitations to the symposium will be issued along with the abstract acceptance responses. Invited participants must register online before July 19, 2013. The URL for the registration web site will be supplied as part of the abstract acceptance response. Space is limited. DARPA reserves the right to limit the symposium participants to the amount of space available.

5.Eligibility

All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs as outlined herein may submit a response that shall be considered by DARPA.

6.Disclaimer

Novel Methods for Information Sharing in Large-scale Mobile Ad-hoc Networks RFI

This RFI is issued solely for information gathering purposes; this RFI does not constitute a formal solicitation for proposals. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. DARPA will not provide reimbursement for costs incurred in responding to this RFI or for attending the Symposium. Respondents are advised that DARPA is under no obligation to provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted under this RFI. Response to this RFI is strictly voluntary and is not required to propose to any subsequent solicitations on this topic, if any. Submissions may be reviewed by: the Government (DARPA and partners); Federally Funded R&D Centers; and Scientific Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) contractors.

7.PointofContact
Inquiries should be submitted via email to DARPA-SN-13-35@darpa.mil.

Novel Methods for Information Sharing in Large-scale Mobile Ad-hoc Networks RFI