NerveNet architecture and its pilot test in Shirahama for resilient social infrastructure

Abstract

From past experience of the large-scale cutoff of existing networks as a result of the East Japan Great Earthquake and tsunamis, and from previous research on stabilizing ad hoc networks that lack control mechanisms, we have strengthened the resilience of NerveNet. NerveNet was originally designed and developed as an access network for provid-ing context-aware services with the use of sensors and actuators. Thus, at present, it has the capability to enable resilient information sharing and communications in a region even if access to the Internet is impossible in emergency situations. NerveNet is composed of single or multiple base stations interconnected by a variety of Ethernet-based wired or wireless transmission systems. A network is formed using line, star, tree, or mesh topology. Network and data management works in each base station in a distributed manner, resulting in the resilience of this system. In collabora-tion with the town of Shirahama inWakayama prefecture in Japan, we have been conducting a pilot test with the NerveNet testbed. The test includes nine base stations interconnected by 5.6-GHz Wi-Fi and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), providing tourists and residents with Internet access. In the future, we expect that not only NerveNet but also other novel technologies will contribute to solving social problems and enriching people's lives.