During IETF 84 in Vancouver, Canada, two chartered Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) research groups (RGs) held meetings:
- ICCRG—Internet Congestion Control research group
- ICNRG—Information-centric Networking research group (new!)
The ICNRG was chartered following IETF 83, and members held their first official meeting in Vancouver. Information-centric networking is an approach to evolve the Internet infrastructure by introducing uniquely named data as a core Internet principle. Data becomes independent from location, application, storage, and means of transportation, enabling in-network caching and replication. Expected benefits include improved efficiency, better scalability with respect to information and bandwidth demand, and increased robustness in challenging communication scenarios. The ICNRG charter is available at http://irtf.org/icnrg.
In addition to the meetings of chartered research groups, a new proposed research group on software-defined networking held an initial, very well attended meeting. Despite a quite broad problem space that will require further refining, the group seems to be on a good trajectory to be chartered. A second, side meeting discussed proposing a research group on energy efficiency.
Since IETF 83, two research groups have closed due to lack of energy and participation: IP Mobility Optimizations (MOPOPTS) and Host Identity Protocol (HIPRG).
Since IETF 83, no new RFCs were published on the IRTF RFC Stream.
The IRTF Open Meeting at IETF 84 was the venue for the first of three Applied Networking Research Prize (ANRP) winners of 2012 to present their research. Alberto Dainotti presented his research into Internet communication disruptions due to filtering. Two additional ANRPs were awarded in 2012, and winners will present their work at IETF 85 in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.
The 2013 nomination and selection cycle of the ANRP has already begun. The ANRP is awarded for recent results in applied networking research that are relevant for transitioning into shipping Internet products and related standardization efforts. It is supported by the Internet Society in coordination with the IRTF. See http://irtf.org/anrp for details on the award and instructions for nominating researchers for the prize. The deadline for nominations for the 2013 cycle is 30 November 2012.
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