The intersection of digital technology, advanced devices, and access technologies is fusing independent networks and devices into a cohesive system. It’s an evolution that enables subscribers to access services when, where, and how they want to. However, few fundamental problems have to be addressed for Future Internet to flourish.
For example, Future Internet users should be able to dynamically and simultaneously connect via multiple wireless providers, some of which may even be free of charge, but as the number of access technologies increases, distributed management becomes increasingly important. From an operator perspective, this includes extending control from a “single-access single-operator” situation to a converged “multi-access multi-operator” context, followed by wide range of issues including authentication, authorization, accounting and mobility (A3M). From the user perspective, this includes the need for protocols that make the best use of “multi-access multi-operator” to obtain reliable and secure connectivity of sufficient quality of service at the best price.
Therefore it is critical to devise “seamless mobility” paradigm that are transparent to the user and easy to manage for the operator.

PERIMETER will do fundamental research, development and experimentation of distributed A3M protocol that will go far beyond existing “single-access single-operator” situation and “no user control” to “multi-access multi-operator” and “full user control” over access quality of service and price.

The objectives of PERIMETER are:
− To conduct fundamental research of the much needed “seamless mobility” protocols that give users control over quality of service and price preferences.
− To develop a “Distributed A3M” protocol, a proof-of-concept for “seamless mobility” paradigm,
− To experimentally evaluate the technological behavioural and economic aspects of seamless mobility” paradigm on a large-scale test bed.

PERIMETER will conduct fundamental research of “seamless mobility” paradigm and perform development and experimentation of “Distributed A3M” protocol by using a combination of AAA (authentication, authorization, accounting) signalling protocol and identity management system  that are integrated with large-scale test bed to handle the convergence, mobility, security and privacy requirements of Future Internet.

The work in PERIMETER entails development of “Distributed A3M” proof-of-concept protocol, based on the Diameter protocol defined in RFC 3588 and Identity Management system. Diameter’s flexibility and agility in formal definition of authorization, authentication and accounting models and flows combined together with Identity Management system flexibility and agility in formal definition of user credential and preference models (such as quality of service and price preferences) provide solid a basis for development of secure and scalable protocols.

PERIMETER will generate new, A3M data models and flows combined together with user-centric digital identity frameworks to deliver state of the art “Distributed A3M” proof-of-concept protocol.

Consequently, the newly developed “Distributed A3M” protocol will be integrated within existing European test beds like Onelab or Living Lab or ETSI endorsed SINTESIO test lab or North American GENI, and proof of the “Distributed A3M” protocol in a testing framework will follow. The augmented test bed will allow provisioning and experimentation of “Distributed A3M” protocol, aiming the “multi-access multi-operator” goal for both user and operator. Thus, it will allow large scale evaluation of technological and social (users, society and economy) effects of “multi-access multi-operator” scenario before doing the long-term investment in their standardisation and massive deployment.

The results of PERIMETER will be released as open source software to support standardisation and wide acceptance by the developers’ community. This will strengthen the European position in development of the Future Internet by improving user experience and allowing new service opportunities.

experts in  data mining and impact analysis

network specialists

test beds

infrustructure specialists in network protocols and gateways

open source specialists

Researchers specialising in NGN/IMS

Identity managment Specialists

AAA experts

Scientific & Technological objectives
1. Definition of “seamless mobility” paradigm
2. Definition of requirements and specifications of “Distributed A3M”.
3. Implementing A3M data models and flows based on Diameter protocol and Identity Management system.
4. Augmenting test bed to support “Distributed A3M” proof-of-concept scenarios
5. Developing of tools for “Distributed A3M” proof-of-concept scenario statistics collection and evaluation
6. Understanding the economic and behavioural impact of such “Distributed A3M” scenarios