An experimental evaluation of delay-tolerant networking with serval

Serval is an open-source, delay-tolerant wireless ad-hoc networking system designed to allow communications anywhere and anytime, despite the total loss of supporting telecommunications infrastructures provided by mobile phone operators. In emergency situations, Serval can be used to establish a disaster-response communications network spontaneously formed by mobile phones and/or battery powered wireless routers. In this paper, we present an in-depth experimental evaluation of Serval for various network setups and usage patterns, including simulated long term use. The focus of our evaluation is on the delay-tolerant aspects of Serval, providing insights into the scenarios where Serval can be deployed with satisfactory quality and performance characteristics. Furthermore, since mobile phones have a limited battery capacity, we take a closer look at the battery drain resulting from using Serval over different communication links, such as WiFi and Bluetooth. Our purpose in providing these analyses is to understand the current capability of Serval and identify any areas where further improvement is required, and to provide a summary of current readiness of Serval in advance of planned pilots in the Pacific region.

[1]  Luigi Paura,et al.  Human-mobility enabled wireless networks for emergency communications during special events , 2013, Pervasive Mob. Comput..

[2]  Timothy Sohn,et al.  A large scale study of text-messaging use , 2010, Mobile HCI.

[3]  M. Werner,et al.  Emergency Communications over Satellite: the WISECOM Approach , 2007, 2007 16th IST Mobile and Wireless Communications Summit.

[4]  Paul Gardner-Stephen,et al.  The rational behind the Serval Network Layer for Resilient Communications , 2013, J. Comput. Sci..

[5]  Wenbo Wang,et al.  A Framework of Wireless Emergency Communications based on Relaying and Cognitive Radio , 2007, 2007 IEEE 18th International Symposium on Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications.

[6]  Marco Zennaro,et al.  Delay tolerant network on smartphones: applications for communication challenged areas , 2011, ExtremeCom.

[7]  Darrell M. West,et al.  Race, Gender, and Communications in Natural Disasters , 2007 .

[8]  Joel J. P. C. Rodrigues,et al.  Advances in delay-tolerant networks (DTNs) : architecture and enhanced performance , 2015 .

[9]  Kashif Ali,et al.  Expanding Rural Cellular Networks with Virtual Coverage , 2013, NSDI.

[10]  Louise K. Comfort,et al.  Communication, Coherence, and Collective Action , 2006 .

[11]  Paul Gardner-Stephen,et al.  MeshMS: Ad Hoc Data Transfer within Mesh Network , 2012 .

[12]  Paul Gardner-Stephen,et al.  The serval mesh: A platform for resilient communications in disaster & crisis , 2013, 2013 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC).

[13]  Francesco Chiti,et al.  Emergency satellite communications: research and standardization activities , 2015, IEEE Communications Magazine.

[14]  David L. Johnson,et al.  Simple pragmatic approach to mesh routing using BATMAN , 2008 .

[15]  H. Chenji,et al.  6 – Delay-tolerant networks (DTNs) for emergency communications , 2015 .

[16]  Yue Liu,et al.  Performance and Energy Consumption Analysis of a Delay-Tolerant Network for Censorship-Resistant Communication , 2015, MobiHoc.

[17]  Viktor Mayer-Schoenberger,et al.  Emergency Communications: The Quest for Interoperability in the United States and Europe , 2002 .

[18]  Milos Manic,et al.  Next Generation Emergency Communication Systems via Software Defined Networks , 2014, 2014 Third GENI Research and Educational Experiment Workshop.

[19]  B. Anil Kumar,et al.  A Survey of Emergency Communication Network Architectures , 2015 .

[20]  A. Laouiti,et al.  Optimized link state routing protocol for ad hoc networks , 2001, Proceedings. IEEE International Multi Topic Conference, 2001. IEEE INMIC 2001. Technology for the 21st Century..

[21]  Paul Gardner-Stephen,et al.  The Serval Project: Practical Wireless Ad-Hoc Mobile Telecommunications , 2011 .

[22]  J. Thomas,et al.  Off Grid communications with Android Meshing the mobile world , 2012, 2012 IEEE Conference on Technologies for Homeland Security (HST).