Re: [B.A.T.M.A.N.] Starting a cellular network

[fboehm <fboehm@aon.at>]

Am 16.10.15 um 22:16 schrieb Jesse:
> Hey guys,
>
> I tried the IRC and didn't get a response. I have limited time on the
> Internet each day so I thought I'd try here. I would like to develop a
> cellular network which runs off of ad hoced 802.11 technology. I'm kind
> of tired having to pay a $40 cellphone bill to keep in contact with two
> other people (at most). I see no justification in this since there are
> already so many more viable options available.
>
> I would like to develop an open standard which is free for everyone to
> implement and utilize for their own needs. Before I get people
> commenting on how it's already been done, I'd like to say, not like this.
>
> The system I'm proposing is built on top of 802.11 ad hoc. Messages are
> chopped into 4096 byte segments before delivery (I'm considering upping
> that to 10 kB). It's capable of delivering text messages, walkie-talkie,
> and files.
>
> I have used avahi-autoipd to implement an IPv4 connection over this
> network and have given all devices in the network, the same BSSID, SSID,
> and channel.
>
> This network uses two ports 4100 and 4200. 4100 is for broadcasts. 4200
> is for TCP connections with surrounding peers. Each json message is
> stamped with a 30 character id. The first 15 characters are an sha512
> hash of the message recipient's public key. The second are an sha512
> hash of the message itself.
>
> Each node keeps up with the last 1000 segments it's been given (in RAM).
> Anything older than that is deleted.
>
> Every 30 seconds (timer starts when peer joins network) nodes send out a
> get broadcast for their messages via UDP (GET SHA-KEY-HASH UNIQUE ID).
> Each peer in the network rebroadcasts this message. Hashes of the last
> 1000 messages are kept in each server as well. If a message hash is
> already in server, it isn't rebroadcast (no loops). After the broadcast
> for messages, the network sends a json list back to them containing all
> the messages the network has which are addressed to that user.
>
> It is the user's discretion which messages to request from the group
> from there. Basically, they pick out the ones they don't already have.
> Another get request is sent GET HASHED-KEY-MESSAGE-HASH (the unique ID
> for the entire message). The particular message is sent back to the user
> (via TCP), using paths constructed from the GET requests.
>
> I would like to extend this to an online P2P network so recipients could
> be part of a global community. Imagine texting your friends in country-x
> for free because someone was kind enough to plug their tower into their
> wifi network. By default, this will not share an Internet connection,
> just texting, walkie-talkie, and file-sharing. I've heard so many people
> complaining about the B.A.T.M.A.N. network sharing their Internet
> connection and them routing it through a VPS to avoid any legal problems.
>
> I have a problem with my service though. If/When the numbers reach
> 10,000 users, I don't really see everyone in the network requesting
> their messages from everyone else in the network.
>
> The possibilities of this network would be endless. No more texting fees
> from major carriers for one. No Internet security risks from sharing the
> network. If the power and Internet went out in areas, people would still
> be able to chat via battery back-up towers they build themselves. Since
> there will be online gateways, there's the possibility that any device
> with wifi access can communicate with these open standard gateways and
> deliver messages to anyone on the network (direct Internet access or
> not). Friends could download your messages when you're offline. Then you
> just request them from others on your friend's list.
>
> Any help with this would be extremely appreciated. I want this to work
> out of the box. I have my own money making schemes for this service
> worked up already and would like to make an entire industry from it.
> Thank you all and sorry for the wall of text. Have a nice day guys.
>

Hi Jesse,

without judging your idea I just want to mention http://opengarden.com

Maybe there are some similarities to your concept/vision.

Franz