ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to compare opportunistic resource utilization networks with other opportunistic networks, and provides key terminology and definitions. It discusses the structure and operation of oppnets, including the classification of oppnet helpers. There are two types of helpers with regard to their capabilities: the regular helpers and the lightweight helpers. The chapter presents the design and implementation of oppnets using the Oppnet Virtual Machine (OVM)—including the motivation for the OVM, its definition, and an overview of the OVM primitives. The OVM-based oppnet middleware is significantly different from systems using opportunistic networks. The chapter describes an OVM-based healthcare and wellness monitoring application, shows a use scenario for it, and indicates how OVM primitives are used in the application. It reviews oppnet-related technologies and previous oppnet work. The oppnet-related technologies are categorized as resource-sharing technologies, connectivity-based technologies, and specialized and other networks.
