IPN - Instituto Pedro Nunes

IPN     IPN Incubadora

N4C
Networking for communications challenged communities: architecture, test beds and innovative alliances

Challenge

The N4C project sought to address the lack of basic internet access in remote areas where it is either absent or the costs are prohibitive for users (e.g. satellite) and it is impractical to use a permanent internet service.

Solution

The solution was based on the DTN (Delay Tolerant Network) communication principle which enables the exchange of data between the source and destination of messages with a limited time delay. The communication between sites is established by using data "mules", which can be people, animals or vehicles such as boats, helicopters and cars, to carry information between areas with internet access and remote areas without access to the network. In the testing phase, helicopters and cars were used in remote regions of Lapland (Sweden) and Slovenia. In the case of Lapland, the system was tested in a reindeer herding community (Sami) which was also given a reindeer location module with communication via DTN.

Project Reference

FP7-ICT-2007-2-223994

Funding

FP7-ICT

Duration

2008-2011

End Date

2011-12-31

Consortium

Luleå Tekniska Universitet (SE); Power Lake Aktiebolag (SE); ITTI SP.ZO.O. (PL); Northern Research Institute Tromsø AS (NO); Intel Performance Learning Solutions Ltd (IE); Universidad Politecnica De Madrid (ES); Albentia Systems, S.A. (ES); Instituto Pedro Nunes (PT); Meis Storitve Za Okolje D.O.O. (SI); Trinity College Dublin (IE); Folly Consulting Limited (UK); Tannak Ab (SE)

Website

http://www.n4c.eu/

Keywords

DTN, delay and disruption tolerant networking, one stop DTN