VO Requirements & Functionality Questions
Understanding the bigger picture
The development on this project is done in phases. New functionalities/features are added with each phase until we reach our target system. All development work of every phase should be aligned with our end system in mind. In order for developers to make the right design choices that will not limit future functionality, they need to have a clear end target that they are working towards.
This page is here to help the developers to get a better understanding of the bigger picture and to make sure the target we design for is clearly defined and does not move around.
Please add any project related questions/thoughts on this page so that we can sort them and see what information is still missing.
VO (village operator) in action
Lets assume the the new VO has all the kit installed. The gateway (WISP) box is connected to the Internet and he is now ready to commission his new business. His first customers are three schools, the local Municipality and two owners of a local Spaza shop who wants a mesh connection at the shop and at both their homes. The two shop owners are very excited and they want to put a web server at their shop and they are thinking about opening a little Internet cafe very soon.
Definitions
- User - An accounting entity with a user name and password. Typically represents an individual or an organisation.
- Edge device - A device that is part of the mesh network (talk mesh protocol) and allows other devices to connect through the mesh. HPNs and Basic Mesh Nodes are edge devices.
- HPN - High Performance Node
- BN - Basic Node
Random questions / thoughts
- What Internet contract packages are available from the VO - prepaid, contract, local, gov sites only ???
- Is data traffic on the mesh free / flat fee / pay per usage
- must a user do some login before he can use the mesh
- must the mesh be able to log all user traffic between mesh users
- can a user use the mesh without buying prepaid/account from the VO
- How must a prepaid package be activated / deactivated
- Are there any bandwidth limits tied to a Internet package
- Are there any data caps associated with the different package
- Must a prepaid user login before he can use the Internet
- Must a prepaid user login before he can send data on the mesh (no Internet)
- How about a gaming server on the mesh, does it need to login some where
- Can more than one user share the same prepaid account, and at the same time
- If a school uses prepaid, do they share the same account, or each user in school
- How will someone running an Internet cafe resell his prepaid bandwidth
- Is a prepaid account tied to certain time duration
- How does a person get onto the network?
- If login is necessary, how do peripherals like printers and ATAs authenticate?
- What devices should be 'approved' for use on the network
The VO
A VO is a person or an entity whose primary objective is running (at a profit) a wireless network. To this end, the following describes the needs or requirements of the VO to meet his objective.
The VO needs:
1. A healthy and working network
2. Diagnostic tools for the network
3. To manage users or subscribers to the network
4. Service management of the network
5. A view of the usage of the network
6. To manage (activate/deactivate) edge devices on the network
1. A healthy and working network
-> Each network element MUST handle all routing and communications other network elements.
-> Each network element MUST require of the VO as minimum as possible configuration without compromising its usability or effectiveness.
2. Diagnostic tools for the network
At a minimum, the VO is provided with a web based diagnostic tools.
-> The diagnostic tools are enough for the VO to establish any problem that may be there.
-> The diagnostic tools can interface with other systems, e.g SMS, email.
3. To manage users or subscribers to the network
-> VO will be able create and modify user accounts
-> VO provides a number of service options for different users
-> VO can monitor usage of the internet connection
-> VO can monitor usage of the local network
-> VO can block access to the network for certain users
4. Service management of the network
-> The VO is able to prioritise certain services within the network
-> The VO is able to block or enable certain services
5. A view of the usage of the network
-> The VO is able to see the usage of the whole network
-> The VO is able to see the usage of each network element
6. To manage (activate/deactivate) edge devices in the network
-> VO can allow (new) edge devices to join the network
-> VO can block edge devices from accessing the mesh network