In this paper, we present an architecture for the deployment of an edge computing system based on Named Data Networking (NDN) as part of a private 5G network. Our proposed architecture integrates IP-based and non-IP-based components using the W3C Web of Things (WoT) standards, including a Thing Description Directory (TDD). Our results highlight the potential of both edge computing and WoT concepts for private 5G deployments but also reveal several standardization gaps that need to be closed to make effective use of the new technologies.

Smart objects are small devices with limited system resources, typically made to fulfill a single simple task. By connecting smart objects and thus forming an Internet of Things, the devices can interact with each other and their users and support a new range of applications. Due to the limitations of smart objects, common security mechanisms are not easily applicable. Small message sizes and the lack of processing power severely limit the devices' ability to perform cryptographic operations. This paper introduces a protocol for delegating client authentication and authorization in a constrained environment. The protocol describes how to establish a secure channel based on symmetric cryptography between resource-constrained nodes in a cross-domain setting. A resource-constrained node can use this protocol to delegate authentication of communication peers and management of authorization information to a trusted host with less severe limitations regarding processing power and memory.

Recently, the IETF has generated a number of standards that are intended to be foundational for large networks of constrained devices, also known as the Internet of Things. Among these are a Web transfer protocol realizing the REST (Representational State Transfer) principles, the Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP), and the Concise Binary Object Representation (CBOR). As with the existing Internet, the Internet of Things will need network management. Management of networks has long been governed by the Structure of Management Information V2 (SMIv2), encoded in ASN.1 Basic Encoding Rules (BER) and the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). Supporting multiple protocols and data encoding formats on a very constrained device is wasteful of its capabilities. We examine how CoAP and CBOR could be used for providing REST-based access to SMIv2-structured information on constrained devices in a way that facilitates interoperation with implementations of the existing protocols.

The rapid evolution of broadband wireless Internet access in the recent years has been accompanied by a plethora of devices and applications that allow mobile users to work remotely or stay in touch with their friends as they go. With the increasing demand for ubiquitous access and the notion of being "always connected", the limitations of today's Internet technologies have become obvious, and various research activities are carried on to re-design aspects of the existing Internet architecture to eventually come to a Future Internet where applications do not suffer from transport protocols that are not able to cope with intermittent connectivity, high delay, and even substantial packet loss. While many clean-slate approaches can use network simulation to validate new protocols, the evaluation of enhancements to existing environments is more difficult. Especially for broadband wireless access involving a complex architecture like the Internet Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) the actual network characteristics cannot be modeled easily. To avoid oversimplification of simulation models, we have developed a tool set to measure some characteristics of a real network path and parameterize a link emulator based on the recorded data. The emulator uses the capabilities of the Linux packet scheduler and its queueing disciplines (qdiscs) to facilitate the evaluation of applications and protocols when facing these network conditions. Our approach enables reproducible tests of application behavior in a lab environment, without the uncertainties of changing conditions in the real world. The emulator was used in a research project to improve existing applications that are run on mobile devices while traveling. To dimension the emulator hardware, we have backed on a preliminary study on the prevalent application protocols being used in the target environment. The results presented here indicate that the Linux packet scheduler can be used to create a simple yet powerful emulation engine for changing network conditions.

The quality of Internet access for mobile users may suffer from highly variable communication characteristics (packet loss, delay, throughput) and from temporary disconnections. The former occur as a result of changing radio properties, handovers, or variable system load, the latter whenever wireless coverage is insufficient. While quite some research has tackled improving radio coverage to keep users always best connected and numerous approaches pursue improving wireless performance and robustness, these often assume a greenfield deployment or a tight integration with operators. We present the mobility support system architecture developed in the CHIANTI project. While building on related work in various technical respects, the CHIANTI architecture is specifically designed to be instantly and incrementally deployable in today's Internet landscape, considering real-world legal and deployment constraints, and supports roles of different (independent) players. We also report on our proof-of-concept implementation.