Delay tolerant networking over the metropolitan public transportation

In this paper we discuss MDTN: a delay tolerant application platform built on top of the Public Transportation System (PTS) and providing service access while exploiting opportunistic connectivity. Our solution adopts a carrier-based approach where buses act as data collectors for user requests requiring Internet access. Simulations based on real maps and PTS routes, with state of the art routing protocols demonstrate that MDTN represents a viable solution for elastic non real-time service delivery. Nevertheless, performance indexes of the considered routing policies show that there is no golden rule for optimal performance and a tailored routing strategy is required for each specific case.