Performance Evaluation of a Blockchain-based Content Distribution over Wireless Mesh Networks

This paper studies the performance of a proximity content distribution scheme over IEEE 802.11s mesh networks with reasonable user density among combinations of three network configurations and two transport mechanisms. For content access control, Hyperledger Sawtooth Blockchain with PoET (Proof of Elapsed Time) consensus algorithm is used as a decentralised storage of non-repudiated and rapid transactions for granting content access and distributing the content decryption key. An extensive performance evaluation of the content distribution and content access control protocols using ns-3 simulator was conducted. The results show that the integration of Blockchain and UDP multicast content distribution in a hybrid mesh network topology is highly feasible.