Information-Centric Networking: Research and Standardization Status

TLDR

Information‑centric networking (ICN) is a novel content‑centric architecture that has attracted global research and standardization efforts, including ITU‑T and IRTF ICNRG projects, yet detailed surveys of its standardization status remain scarce. This paper surveys ICN research and standardization activities from 2010 onward, providing historical context, references to projects, and outlining future directions. The authors review recent standardization progress of ICN component technologies in ITU‑T and the documents produced by the IRTF ICNRG.

Abstract

Information-centric networking (ICN) is a new approach to networking contents rather than devices that hold the contents. It has recently attracted much attention of network research and standardization communities. National and multi-national funded research projects have progressed worldwide. International Telecommunication Union - Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) started ICN standardization activities in 2012. In parallel, the standards-oriented research cooperation is progressing in the Information-Centric Networking Research Group (ICNRG) of the Internet Research Task Force (IRTF). All these global efforts have been collectively advancing the novel network architecture of ICN. However, there are very few surveys and discussions on the detailed ICN standardization status. To update the reader with information about the ICN research and standardization related activities, this paper starts with the history of global activities on ICN from 2010, giving references to various projects. It then describes the recent progress in the standardization of ICN component technologies in ITU-T and various documents produced by ICNRG. Lastly, it discusses the future directions for progressing ICN.