On Designing for Tussle: Future Internet in Retrospect

Abstract

Abstract. Over the past decades, the fundamental principles of the Internet architecture have not significantly changed. However, Internet evolution and its effects on participants' interests have triggered the need for re-defining these design principles. "Design for Tussle" is an aspiration for future network designs, which enables the involved stakeholders to express their possibly conflicting socio-economic preferences on service instances. We performed a series of case studies examining whether established technologies are compatible with this new approach. Using the knowledge gained, we provide canonical examples and help protocol and network designers better to consider how to come up to the problem of "designing for tussle" in order to realize a flexible architecture. Finally, we associate protocol success to adoption and show, using empirical evidences, that carefully embracing the "Design for Tussle" paradigm can outweigh the higher complexity in protocol design.

Dynamics of communication protocol diffusion: the case of multipath TCP

“…Using proven design principles and architectural guidelines of the Internet [13,14], like the classic end-to-end principle [15] and refinements such as "design for tussle" [16,17], helps in designing protocols that are feasible for each relevant stakeholder. Although following such principles does not ensure the success of a certain protocol, they are important for the long-term evolution of the Internet [18]. For communication to take place, protocols have to be agreed upon.…”

A Tussle Analysis for Information-Centric Networking Architectures

“…It is obvious that the need for designing a tussle-aware FI has emerged to enhance deployment, stability and interoperability of new solutions. Although there are plenty of counter-examples of adopted protocols/architectures that do not follow the Design for Tussle principle, tussle-aware protocols and architectures are expected to have better chances for adoption/success in the long-term [3].…”

Towards Multipath TCP Adoption: Challenges and opportunities

“…Even if a good technical design is not the most important success factor, tussle-aware protocol designs have better chances at deployment in the long-term [24].…”