Disruption-Tolerant Networking (DTN)

As anyone who has tired to browse the web with a spotty internet connection will tell you, the web is designed for continues connections. While on earth this might not be much of a problem, more of an annoyance, but it makes communication in space very difficult. The solution is Disruption-Tolerant Networking (DTN).

http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2009-07/space-no-one-can-hear-you-blog

"Now, spacecraft like the ISS communicate with Earth over a single point-to-point connection using a transmitter that is essentially a souped-up walkie-talkie. Data transmissions must be carefully scheduled to coincide with periods where both the ISS and a receiving station are in range for long enough to complete the exchange.

Disruption-Tolerant Networking (DTN), however, would link spaceships and ground facilities in a mesh network of sorts, sending information in bundles which can be transmitted intermittently. That way, rather than maintain a constant connection, packets of info can be beamed down, or up, and stored for use later. This allows for the bundles to be transmitted partially when connections are tenuous, and then easily resumed by another node in the network. The bundles can be relayed along satellites, future habitats set up on the moon or other planets, or even astronauts own personal communcations gear."