Content-Centric Networking
Content-centric networking is a fundamental change in how communication is handled between distributed devices. It is PARC's vision for taking the next step in data communication — a change in network architecture to make content retrieval by name, not location,
the fundamental operation of the network. Their approach replaces the machine-oriented IP model with a named content model as
the basis for the central protocol that connects networks.
Take a look at the video on the bottom of
this page. Van Jacobson, a Research Fellow at
Xerox PARC, does a great job explaining this breakthrough approach. I think you'll find it very interesting.
As a related point of interest, Xerox PARC just
celebrated its 40th Anniversary. These are the same folks who brought us personal computers, Ethernet, the laser printer and Windows-style computer displays, among many other advances.