Diferenciação de serviços em Redes de Dados Nomeados: novas perspectivas através da semântica de nomeação, do cache e da manutenção de estados.

Abstract

The accelerated growth of applications and services on the Internet, with heterogeneous requirements, demands more efficient service differentiation mechanisms than those offered by traditional IP networks. In this context, Named Data Networking (NDN) emerges as a promising alternative to meet the needs of the current communication model. NDN introduces a paradigm shift from the traditional IP address-oriented architecture by prioritizing content access by name rather than by location, and by offering features such as in-network caching, stateful forwarding, and packet-level security—capabilities that enable more sophisticated resource management. Despite its benefits, NDN by default does not implement service differentiation mechanisms, treating all traffic uniformly, which limits support for applications with distinct Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. Furthermore, the efficiency of on-path caching and conventional forwarding strategies can be compromised in dynamic environments with high competition for resources. This thesis proposes a set of adaptive mechanisms for QoS provisioning in NDN, based on the integration of naming semantics, cache management, and forwarding state maintenance, focusing on service differentiation. The developed works include: a cooperative and adaptive forwarding mechanism for traffic control based on forwarding state to mitigate interest packets flooding in wireless NDN; an opportunistic and cooperative caching mechanism to support producer mobility; a dynamic, content-centric load-balancing mechanism that promotes efficient traffic distribution and differentiated content delivery; and an integrated approach that combines naming semantics and cache management to enhance QoS provisioning and the performance of heterogeneous applications. The proposed mechanisms are designed, implemented, and evaluated through simulations using ndnSIM, considering different network topologies and scenarios, including both mobile and wired networks. These mechanisms explore several components of the NDN stack, such as naming, caching, and forwarding. In this way, the thesis presents new perspectives for service differentiation in NDN, demonstrating that the integration among different components has the potential to provide QoS more efficiently and to support heterogeneous applications. This work establishes conceptual foundations and practical mechanisms that can guide future research in this field.