Intelligent routers and smart protocols

Abstract

IP networks are now well established. However, control, management and optimization schemes are provided in a static and basic way. Network control and management with intelligent software agents offers a new way to master quality of service, security and mobility management. This new paradigm allows a dynamic and intelligent control of the equipment in a local manner, a global network control in a cooperative manner, a more autonomous network management, and a better guaranty of all important functionalities like end to end quality of service and security. In this paper we provide an illustration of such a paradigm through a testbed of an architecture based on intelligent routers and smart protocols. This Goal-Based Networking (GBN) architecture, using adaptable protocols named STP/SP (Smart Transport Protocol/Smart Protocol), is able to optimize the communications through the networks. Finally, we discuss the pros and cons of this new architecture. © IFIP International Federation for Information Processing 2004.