Mesh networking with batman-adv

Mesh networking with batman-adv

Content-centric networking seems well suited for mesh networks, where instead of futilely attempting online communication across a network in continual flux, static information is opportunistically exchanged, with some ranking/reputability system used to decide which content to publish, and which to receive. Something closer to FidoNet than the Internet.

Another benefit is the possibility of not requiring battery-powered devices to be permanently awake in order to serve as router for other nodes in the mesh. It's easy to imagine a scheme where devices only wake for a specific window every few minutes to handshake with any interesting neighbour, synchronized to the device's current best idea of time (something that could even be derived from the mesh during initialization).

While it wouldn't allow you to watch every desired YouTube clip, in a scenario where freedom of information was threatened, such a network might be very effective for transmission of important information. One aspect that isn't clear would be how a user would configure their (space constrained) mobile device with a policy to filter the exchanged data, e.g. the ability to select regional news while excluding pornography, sports, or politically motivated content.

I think given software with the right UI, and some motivating application, technology already exists today in millions of pockets worldwide to make a network like this reality.