SRv6 Based Store-Carry-and-Forward Networking for Deep Space

The deep space communication environment is characterized by ultra-long propagation latencies, link disruptions, asymmetric round-trip data rate, and high bit error rate. Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN) has been developing Bundle Protocol (BP) / Licklider Transmission Protocol (LTP) and a store-carry-and-forward approach to cope with the harsh conditions of interstellar networks, but there are problems such as needing to redevelop upper-layer applications. This paper proposes a new IP architecture based on Segment Routing IPv6 (SRv6) to solve deep space delay/disruption tolerating problems by hop-by-hop network path routing and hop-by-hop forwarding. By leveraging the programmable capabilities of SRv6, a new Segment Identifier (SID), named End.XS SID, realizing store-carry-and-forward function, is introduced to address link disruptions. The proposed solution prototype is implemented and validated by modifying the Linux kernel source code. The experimental results show that new store-carry-and-forward paradigm based on SRv6 can solve deep space ultra-long propagation latencies and disruptions issues more efficiently and simply than current BP/LTP based DTN architecture.