The anywhere office, work model is based on the premise that people who work remotely can perform their professional activities anywhere, it is a trend in the market and its adoption has accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many companies that can take advantage of this working model do not have the technological know-how to easily implement it.  

In this sense, the DINO solution, developed by WG-RLProviDe-MI, promises to facilitate the fast and easy adoption of network applications in different contexts. The current focus is on applications aimed at extending the institutional network in a safe and quality way, allowing users of these networks to use them anywhere that offers Internet access, without having to be physically at the institution.  

The solution allows the easy expansion of Eduroam academic network coverage and facilitates the adoption of the anywhere office work model, always focusing on promoting quality local connectivity for users who are working. Extending the concept of anywhere office to the Eduroam case, DINO promotes the connectivity of this platform anywhere, taking the coverage of the academic network beyond the limits of teaching and research institutions.  

To make this possible, the WG team developed a portable device with embedded code that allows the use of the solution in a plug-and-play manner. The designed network architecture provides secure connectivity by encapsulating data through a GRE (Generic Routing Encapsulation) tunnel that traverses a VPN (Virtual Private Network) data that is encrypted. Additionally, a control VPN is used to manage the traffic.  

“This architecture allows the performance of fuzzy reinforcement learning algorithms in optimizing the use of network resources in the remote user's local network. Focusing on the current application scenario, the mission of WG-RLProviDe-MI is to promote safe and quality connectivity for people to have the freedom to work remotely anywhere”, explains WG coordinator, Dianne Medeiros.   

Currently, the DINO solution is being tested by users of the RNP System. The solution has three functionalities that beta testers can use independently: optimized bandwidth control, automated remote access and creation of Eduroam hotspots.  

Optimized bandwidth control allows for higher quality on the local network when there is competition for bandwidth by dynamically assigning available bandwidth through fuzzy reinforcement learning algorithms.  

Automated remote access promotes the anywhere office concept by automatically and securely extending the institutional network to where the person is working. Eduroam hotspots easily extend Eduroam network coverage anywhere, helping the academic community stay connected at all times. A total of 9 devices are being tested, 5 for remote access functionality, 3 for bandwidth control and 1 for Eduroam hotspot. 

The results show that the network architecture that supports the DINO solution extends the institutional network in a safe, transparent and cost-effective way. Validation of the business model and the product is ongoing. So far, the team has validated public and private educational institutions as a customer segment.  

According to the coordinator, the feedback obtained so far is qualitative and indicates a positive reception of the product by the beta testers. “The experimentation stage, in progress, has been showing promising results in terms of user satisfaction, and it is still necessary to quantify this satisfaction”, informs Dianne. “There is great expectation to cover a broad market focused on remote work. However, it is believed that the solution is not limited to this market. It is understood that the success of commercializing the solution depends on the formation of partnerships for the development of hardware in order to scale the offer”.  

Future developments  

The DINO solution is supported by an architecture that is aligned with next generation networks, such as 5G/6G networks. The solution's design allows the development of varied network applications that need to be supported by an edge device capable of communicating with a data center in the cloud or at the edge of the network, according to the need.  

“In this way, the WG-RLProviDe-MI team believes that DINO has the potential to go beyond a solution for extending the institutional network, currently focused on remote work. In the future, it is possible that it will be established as a solution to enable the implementation of multi-access edge computing in new generation networks, further expanding the reachable useful market”, concludes the coordinator.  

The WG-RLProviDe-MI was selected by public call in RNP's R&DI Advanced Services Program and involves the Fluminense Federal University (UFF) in partnership with Samsung Electronics and the associated startup Solvimm.