A Robust P2P Information Sharing System and its Application to Communication Support in Natural Disasters

To provide the stable and continuous network services in cases of large-scale natural disasters, computers must use extremely limited network and computational resources effectively without imposing additional administrative burdens. The authors propose a P2P Information Sharing System for affected areas based on our proposed structured P2P network called the Well-distribution Algorithm for an Overlay Network (WAON). By applying the WAON framework, the system configures the P2P network autonomously using the remaining nodes, and achieves load balancing dynamically without additional network maintenance costs. Therefore, the system can perform well in an unstable network environment such as that during a disaster. The authors designed and implemented the system and evaluated its overall system behavior and performance in simulations assuming the real scenario of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Results show that the authors’ system can distribute safety confirmation information of victims efficiently among the remaining nodes. A Robust P2P Information Sharing System and its Application to Communication Support in Natural Disasters