Network Packetization In Multi-Path Environments & Next-Gen Networks

Progress in modern communication technology is continuous and accelerated. Demand for higher bandwidth, lower latency, more reliable connectivity is ever-growing. With it, supporting a higher number of devices connected, deep network awareness, as well as a more accessible network is essential. The introduction of cloud/fog computing, cooperative communication architectures, and the Internet of Things (ToT) show that the capabilities of traditional network architectures and protocols are becoming obsolete. Therefore, new technologies, such as Software-Defined Networking, Network Function Virtualization, Content-Centric Networking, and Cooperative Networking are being introduced to sustain future demands. One primary limitation is the use of the conventional TCP/IP five-layer network model. More specifically, the redundant header overhead exiting in convention communication is an inefficient use of bandwidth increasing the overall communication latency. This paper proposes a new universal packetization standard that can be used to reduce the header overhead, and to prepare for next-gen communication, such as Cooperative Multipath Communication. Cooperative Multipath Communication provides an alternative communication standard to the TCP/IP five-layer model. The paper proposes shifting the responsibilities from the bottom layers to the application layer and end nodes to eliminate the dependency on conventional methods. The result section shows a significant improvement in latency, throughput, and packet reception.