The Future Internet Assembly (FIA) in Aalborg, Denmark saw a healthy number of events and sessions with a strong socio-economic impact. FIA Aalborg, hence, was a highly interesting event for the FISE working group and the SESERV coordination action: 

• SESERV has co-organized two FIA sessions, namely the Open Platforms for Innovation as well as the Novel Networking and Relationship with Applications sessions.
• As the FIA was themed Smart Cities and Internet of Things, most sessions were deeply engaging into the socio-economics of the Future Internet. One notable example out of many is the session Games, Networks, and Clouds: What are the Requirements?
• The paper submissions out of SESERV for the new edition of the Future Internet book were very successful – including two best paper awards won!
• Finally, The Horizon 2020 plans include besides innovation major "societal challenges" as one major field, which may see various fields of applications. ICT will be considered part of the "excellent science" field.

Open Platforms for Innovation

The session on "Open Platforms for Innovation" was organized by Didier Bourse, ALBLF, and addressed amongst other aspects the comparison of the EU approaches FIRE/FI-PPP with the US approaches GENI/IGNITE. In overall conclusions, while the technology and service distinction seems to be drawn at the same lines in the two locations, the operation, funding, and future looks different. While the US favors clearly universities to do the research, the EU sees a more industry-driven being more favorable.

Please have a look at the session report for full details and results obtained.

Novel Networking and Relationship with Applications

Application/network interconnection is motivated by the observation that network information flows are about to become as important as data information flows. From a business point of view, application/network interconnection based on innovative network designs is expected to result in a win-win situation for all stakeholders. Universal media access with sufficient Quality of Experience (QoE) is expected to be a key incentive in this direction.

• Application/Network Interconnection will require a re-consideration of the traditional layered concept as network information flows may become as important as data information flows.
• Making applications network-aware through exposure of monitoring information is an efficient and realistic way to optimize their transport over heterogeneous network environments.
• From a business point of view, application/network interconnection should (and has selectively been shown already to) result in win-win situations through market equilibria.
• Telcos seem reluctant to adopt a bottom-up, application-centric network design for community networks as telcos typically embrace a top-down, general-purpose network design.
• Universal Media Access with sufficient Quality-of-Experience (QoE) could be the key incentive for deploying network-assisted service delivery mechanisms

Please have a look at the session report for full details and results obtained.

Games, Networks, and Clouds: What are the Requirements?

The session on "Games, Networks, and Clouds: What are the Requirements?" was organized by Malte Behrmann, EGDF and addressed the gaming requirements in general (mobile and wire-line) in the context of clouds and content-centric networks/content distribution networks.  While the requirements seemed to be converging under technical views (low latency is the key), the demands from telcos, users, and game developers driven by business perspectives show a much larger diversity.

SESERV-driven Papers in the 2012 Future Internet Book

SESERV has received two out of three best paper awards for the FIA book contributions at the Aalborg FIA on May 11, 2012 on work on societal aspects (WP2) and economics (WP3), which outlines a major impact and excellence of work SESERV has pursued.