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IPoAC, or IP over Avian Carriers[^], was put forth by the Internet Engineering Task Force in 1990 as RFC 1149[^]. Version 2 was proposed in 1999 as RFC 2549[^]. Version 3, adapted to include IPv6, was made in 2011 as RFC 6214[^]. Basically, the protocol describes the use of carrier pigeon or similar bird to which a portable storage device has been attached as a way of transporting digital information.
Yes, the three proposals were made as April Fools jokes, but the protocols have been tested, and the results have been interesting. For large transfers of data, avian carriers actually outperform the Internet: the size of thumb drives has decreased greatly, while the storage density has greatly increased, since RFC 1149, meaning that bandwidth on an avian carrier has increased three times faster than bandwidth on the Internet. Latency is a problem, of course, with benchmarks showing response times ranging between 3000 seconds (about 54 minutes) to over 6000 seconds. Even so, the potential is impressive, especially for non-industrialized countries and rural areas that are poorly served by traditional Internet services. For example, if 16 homing pigeons are given eight 32 GB SD cards each, and they take an hour to reach their destination, the throughput amounts to about 9102 MB/s, excluding transfer to and from the cards, which is far superior to anything that is otherwise available.
That is what I call thinking outside the box.
Edit: Not sure what happened, but I've fixed the links.
modified 7-Feb-14 16:47pm.
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But, in areas where the avian carriers may be mistaken for drones... Well... let's just say the message may not make it to the intended target...
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Google call it FedExNet[^] but it's also known as SneakerNet.
For huge amounts of data, it's a lot more efficient in time terms due to the massive bandwidth required otherwise.
I do an equivalent from time to time, and load a USB3 HDD and drive it across town, rather than upload it to Dropbox because my upload speed is a paltry 1Mb/s.
Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952)
Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)
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"Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway."
Andrew S. Tanenbaum[^]
modified 7-Feb-14 18:53pm.
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CHOMP!
You just got bit by the underscore in link bug!
<voice type="Ebeneezer Scrooge"> Bah. dumb bugs </voice>
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I wonder if it tastes like chicken?
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I don't think I want to find out. 
/ravi
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Perhaps they wanted to get a leg up on the competition.
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No, they were trying to help others to get ahead.
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Looks like they may got cold feet.
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I knew I would take a ribbing for that.
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Go on - stick it to him.
/ravi
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Eye would, butt he might be armed
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Nah - I think his defences are half-baked.
/ravi
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I'll wait until he's distracted eating those finger sandwiches, care to give me a hand?
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Good idea. We should be able to nail him then.
/ravi
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I think his house is located on a major artery, next to that big spine tree.
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In the same vein (I know I'm going out on a limb here), I have to hand it to ya - the tree would definitely give us a leg up!
/ravi
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It's going to take some intestinal fortitude, but as long as you have the stomach for it, I think we do this. In the meantime I'll keep my ear to the ground.
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Are two heads better than one?
It was broke, so I fixed it.
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Heads? I'd go for the thigh muscle, and a couple of other nice muscles.
I've heard it tastes like veal. Mild with no other sharply defined or highly characteristic taste. (source: William Seabrook)
Sounds good to me.
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