A Global One-Way Control Channel for Opportunistic Networks

In this paper, we explore the challenge of limited global knowledge in opportunistic networks. Using a low bandwidth global one-way control channel, e.g., provided through the data side channel of FM radio, we mitigate this limitation. In the case of Epidemic Routing in Delay Tolerant Networks, enhancing the acknowledgment mechanism for delivered messages using this channel improves message delivery by up to 50 % depending on the scenario.