Scope

PERIMETER’s main objective is to establish a new paradigm for user-centricity in advanced networking architectures. In contrast with network-centric approaches, user-centric strategies could achieve seamless mobility driven by actual user needs rather than simply business considerations. Putting the users at the centre rather than the operator enables them to finely control the way their identity, preferences and credentials are sued. Furthermore seamless mobility is streamlined according to user preferences, enabling mobile users to be “Always Best Connected” (ABC) in multiple-access multiple-operator networks of the Future Internet.

Technical and innovation approach

The technical and innovation approach of PERIMETER is inspired by SAC (Situated Autonomic Communications) projects recommended by FIRE (Future Internet Research and Experimentation) initiative launched by the European Commission1.

Much of the innovation behind PERIMETER comes from the Quality of Experience (QoE) concept, primary driver for the definition of user-centric seamless mobility protocols, enabling true “Always Best Connected” (ABC) services. The definition of QoE will be based upon user perceivable indexes and parameters (i.e. quality, price and reputation and the degree of security) including the level of privacy guaranteed by each technology and service.

In order to achieve these objectives, PERIMETER will include appropriate mechanisms for network selection based upon QoE such as innovative implementation of “Distributed A3M2 ”, protocols for AAA3 based on privacy-preserving digital identity models. All these mechanisms will be designed to be independent from the underlying networking technology and operator, in order to enable fast, inter-technology handovers.

PERIMETER will design and implement a middleware architecture able to support generic QoE models, signalling-content adaptation and prototype applications and services for obtaining user-centric seamless mobility.

The paradigms of user-centric seamless mobility, middleware components and its integrated applications and services will be tested in two large-scale interconnected testbeds on real users. The results will allow a detailed assessment about how the main objectives of user-centricity have been satisfied by the project solution.

The results of PERIMETER will be released as open source software in order to enable a fast adoption of seamless mobility technologies within software companies products.

Therefore the goal is to set a baseline for future User-Centric Mobility experimentation, and drive the directions for user-centric Future Internet research and standardization.

The following figure shows PERIMETERs view on the Future Internet, where the communication is user-centered and not operator-centered as it is now.

Public Key Infrastructure / Privilege Management Infrastructure / Identity Management Frameworks (identity, attributes, preferences, authorization credentials, ...)

Target users and benefits

Everyone who uses the Internet or a mobile phone is a target user for PERIMETER.

The availability of a user-centric network architecture will revolutionize mobile communications. Its impact will radically improve the current perception and availability of security and privacy in communications. Finally it would guarantee Europe as a leader in the race, to define and develop the network and service infrastructures of the Future Internet.

¹Mention date of adoption
²Authentication, authorization, accounting and mobility
³Fast Authentication, Authorization and Accounting