# Autonomic Networked Systems Protocols

## What is Autonomic?

Like the autonomic nervous system of living creatures the ANS operates without the need for control by the user, functioning in an involuntary, reflexive manner in the background without their interference or knowledge of its mechanics. This is exactly what is needed to support ubiquitous computing environments, especially in the application of the “intelligent home” and medical applications where constant technical support is impossible.

A ubiquitous network must have a high degree of automatic adaptability and reconfigurability since it is inconceivable that we should require users to perform explicit systems management and maintenance. The ANS is self-configuring, self-optimising, and self-repairing. The user can seamlessly plug and unplug units into and out of the network.

## Protocols

- ANS Core Protocol
  All ANS devices must understand the ANS Core Protocol. This is a very simple protocol that will run over almost any packet-based network.
- Security
  There will frequently be a need to secure the connections between ubiquitous devices. The nature of the devices and their links makes this a non-trivial problem.
- Routing by Attribute
  As well as traditional unicast point-to-point network routing the ANS allows multicasting by “attribute”. This allows packets to be, for example, routed to all devices at a particular physical (as opposed to network) location or to all devices owned by a particular person, allowing personal networks to spread far beyond personal space over the internet.
- Services
  “Services” are additional sub-protocols that piggyback on top of the ANS. Combined with a powerful service discovery mechanism they allow devices using the ANS to find and control other ANS systems.
- Caching
  Service data can be cached, even by devices that don’t understand that service. This way data can be recovered from the network in the event of a device or network failure. Use “persistent caching” to store configuration settings and user data on devices on the network in a distributed fashion.

## Networks

- ANS over BNET
  “BNET” is the simple 433MHz packet radio protocol used by Beasties to send ANS packets.
- ANS over IP
  The ANS may also be used on an IP (UDP/IP) network.