Edge Networking

6Applications of the Internet of Edges

Participatory networks allow the creation of tactical bubbles or intelligent spaces called clusters.

These completely sealed clusters can connect to each other and form the Internet of Edges. The clusters can move, separate or group together. They are connected to each other by fixed, 4G or 5G infrastructure networks.

The interconnection can use VPNs for security reasons. VPN links can be considered as one-hop links to integrate a few isolated nodes into a cluster.

We show in Figure 6.1 a possible topology of the Internet of Edges involving three clusters interconnected by an infrastructure network and secured by VPNs.

The Internet of Edges is also ideally suited to networks of vehicles, drones, robots and all things that move, with sufficient node density for the radio to connect the nodes together. Depending on the technology, most often Wi-Fi and 4G in infrastructure mode today and 5G tomorrow, the network can go from small to very large with ranges of several kilometers between nodes using appropriate frequencies and power. The performance achieved depends on the density of the nodes, the radio technology and the transmission powers.

Figure 6.1. Example of the interconnection of three clusters.

6.1. Civil security and defense applications

Participatory Internet networks are ideally suited for public safety and defense applications ...