A concept for publish-subscribe information dissemination and networking

Joseph P. Loyall, Matthew Gillen, Karen Zita Haigh, Robert Walsh, Craig Partridge, Greg Lauer, W. Timothy Strayer

Abstract: Although IP and its overlying protocols, such as TCP and UDP, are ubiquitous, they were originally designed for point-to-point connections between computers in reasonably fixed locations. They are less suited to mobile networks and broadcast communications. In this paper, we present an alternative to IP that is based on a publish-subscribe approach. The approach that we present combines an application publish-subscribe programming model with a content delivery network, which provides several advantages in certain communication environments, including quality of service based on application level needs; efficient support for reliable broadcast; support for disadvantaged, intermittent, and limited communications; and more efficient reliability and fault tolerance. The paper presents our approach, based on a streamlined Data Distribution Service and simplified Content Delivery Network, a motivating example in which the publish-subscribe based distribution and network provides advantages, and a contrast to TCP/IP in the example context.