SFB 1053:  MAKI - Multi-Mechanism-Adaptation for the Future Internet

Subject Area Computer Science, Systems and Electrical Engineering
Social and Behavioural Sciences
Term from 2013 to 2024
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 210487104
 

Project Description

How will the Internet of the future look like? Which forms of communications – as we know them today – will prevail, which novel forms of communications will emerge? What are the challenges faced regarding the constantly increasing mobile use of networks? To summarize: A grand challenge in communication systems stems from an increase in dynamics and variations of the conditions in which they operate, the constantly increasing amount of changes of use cases, and the growing quality re-quirements. The Collaborative Research Centre MAKI (Multi-Mechanism-Adaption for the Future Internet) addresses this challenge. In par-ticular, it investigates all kinds of mechanisms in communication systems, the adaptation, interaction, constant optimization, and evolution thereof. The term mechanism describes both, communication protocols and parts thereof – defining the func-tionality of communication systems – and the functional aspects of the distributed systems realized on top. We witness a con-stant development of novel mechanisms. Yet, mechanisms providing equivalent functionality under different conditions coex-ist, since an adaptation of legacy mechanisms to traffic conditions, bandwidth, etc. is limited. Particularly mobile usage induces highly fluctuating conditions, which would require the online adaptation of the communication system by means of transitions between functionally equivalent mechanisms – which is mostly impossible as of today. Interactions between mechanisms that jointly depend on each other are more complex still and require coordinated transitions in groups of equivalent mechanisms, so-called multi-mechanisms-adaptation.Goal of the CRC is to enable such automated transitions between functionally equivalent mechanisms in communication sys-tems at runtime. It includes the coordination of multiple concurrent transitions, which influence each other. We face this chal-lenge in the context of the international research efforts towards a “future Internet”. We consider the plentiful coexistence of mechanisms a great opportunity rather than a curse, stimulating innovation. However, significant advances in research are re-quired to enable individually as well as jointly coordinated (multi-) transitions between mechanisms at system runtime. We aim at a paradigm shift in the global Internet research. We believe that a targeted effort of the given CRC-scale size is required to deal with the ever increasing complexity, variability, and dynamics of the Internet that coincide with a deluge of novel applica-tions and constantly increasing quality requirements.
DFG Programme Collaborative Research Centres

Completed projects

Applicant Institution Technische Universität Darmstadt
Participating University Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main; Philipps-Universität Marburg; Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen; Universität Koblenz; Universität Mannheim; Universität Ulm
Spokesperson Professor Dr.-Ing. Ralf Steinmetz, until 12/2024