We propose Internames, an architectural framework in which names are used to
identify all entities involved in communication: contents, users, devices,
logical as well as physical points involved in the communication, and services.
By not having a static binding between the name of a communication entity and
its current location, we allow entities to be mobile, enable them to be reached
by any of a number of basic communication primitives, enable communication to
span networks with different technologies and allow for disconnected operation.
Furthermore, with the ability to communicate between names, the communication
path can be dynamically bound to any of a number of end-points, and the
end-points themselves could change as needed. A key benefit of our architecture
is its ability to accommodate gradual migration from the current IP
infrastructure to a future that may be a ubiquitous Information Centric
Network. Basic building blocks of Internames are: i) a name-based Application
Programming Interface; ii) a separation of identifiers (names) and locators;
iii) a powerful Name Resolution Service (NRS) that dynamically maps names to
locators, as a function of time/location/context/service; iv) a built-in
capacity of evolution, allowing a transparent migration from current networks
and the ability to include as particular cases current specific architectures.
To achieve this vision, shared by many other researchers, we exploit and expand
on Information Centric Networking principles, extending ICN functionality
beyond content retrieval, easing send-to-name and push services, and allowing
to use names also to route data in the return path. A key role in this
architecture is played by the NRS, which allows for the co-existence of
multiple network "realms", including current IP and non-IP networks, glued
together by a name-to-name overarching communication primitive.Comment: 6 page
