Information-Centric Networks

Information‐centric networks (ICNs) introduce a radical change in Internet communications. ICNs emphasize information access regardless of location through a new data‐based approach, allowing networks to actively deliver content. ICNs employ innovative concepts, such as named content, name‐based routing, security mechanisms applied directly to content and in‐network content caching. This chapter introduces some basic ICN concepts and points out their advantages and disadvantages in comparison to traditional network architectures. A number of naming schemes can be used to identify content and to directly request content distribution to the network infrastructure. Three basic content naming techniques can be used in ICNs: flat naming, hierarchical naming and attribute‐based naming. ICN architectures are challenging scenarios for in‐network content caching techniques.