Cluster-based architecture and network model for InterPlaNetary Internet

Along with the development of the IPN(InterPlaNetary)Internet,the terrestrial Internet and interplanetary exploration network will be seamlessly merged with each other.However,significant challenges in control and management exist in such a complicated network.These include the efficient and reliable dissemination of control information,and the building up of an overlay network.This paper reviews current networking technologies for the IPN Internet and presents a novel architecture that divides it into subnets.A network model based on clusters is proposed to account for the problem of dynamic coupling among subnets and achieve monolithic controllability of the whole network.A new paradigm that separates the control and service planes is presented to reduce congestion and guarantee the reliable distribution of control information.We also present a modified version of a delay-tolerant-network protocol stack that separates the network layer into generalized inter-cluster sub-layers and discriminative intra-cluster sub-layers to improve the transmission efficiency of control information.Simulation results indicate that both the control and service data delivery is more efficient and reliable through clustering of the IPN Internet.Finally,we present recent achievements in network-information theoretical approaches that can be successfully applied to deep-space communication.