The implementation of peer-to-peer in flash crowds: A case study of bandwidth and cost reduction for over-the-air updates

Abstract: This thesis will examine the plausibility of exchanging protocol from a normal server-client to a peer-to-peer solution for over-the-air updates, using a single case study for Sony Mobile Communications AB in Lund, Sweden. It will examine the effort, the risks, and what the actual gain may be comparing to a client-server approach for over-the-air software updates. Sony Mobile today uses a content delivery network which creates a peak upon new releases of software and this thesis will examine how efficient the peer-to-peer approach is for flash crowds in terms of saved data from the content delivery network. Continuing on the problem there are several global network infrastructure limitations, such as NAT44, NAT444 and firewalls, which proves to decrease the overall connectability of peers in peer-topeer networks. Live experiments using real mobile devices from Sony Mobile will be used to examine the gain after a comprehensive literature study to explore what impact such network limitations has on peer-to-peer networks. As a consequence showing that even with limitations there is a potential gain of changing the approach to a peer-to-peer model. The live experiments prove that with few steps there can be a potential data saving gain up to 20%, without any interference with the global infrastructure. The findings will also prove the feasibility of additional hole punching techniques which may further push the gain towards higher numbers.