SMARTNETS
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This work investigates the novel concept of Degree-of-Participation (DP) in mobile ad hoc networks. The Degree-of-Participation concept allows nodes in the ad hoc network to use their own policies to decide the level of involvement they are willing to have in the forwarding process. The work also investigates DP-based routing schemes for mobile ad hoc networks. Performance evaluations show that the Degree-of-Participation allows a more flexible and resource-aware forwarding process. |
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A variety of different types of devices may serve as nodes in a Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET). Every node must be equipped with a transmitter and receiver in order to allow wireless communication, however each may have a different set of abilities. Typically, the functionalities and resources available to the node are suited to the device's particular purpose and requirements. Participation in a MANET places a burden on a node, in addition to its primary functions. Each node is asked to also forward packets for the rest of the network. This consumes some or all of a node's resources, including processing time, energy stores, and network bandwidth. Depending on the amount of routing demand placed on a node, the additional routing load may reduce or drain a node's available resources. A node may then be forced to restrict its own operations, or even shut down, abandoning all functionality. A node is required to participate in the routing process in order for the network to effectively deliver its traffic. The load placed on the node is dependent on the routing protocol used in the network. In most ad hoc routing protocols, a node has little choice as to how much forwarding it must perform. If it feels it cannot perform these duties, or chooses not to, for whatever reason, it has only two choices: to break the rules of the routing protocol, or to withdraw from the network. Both solutions will have a negative impact on the network as a whole. The Degree-of-Participation-concept provides nodes with a method for varying their level of involvement in the network. Based on the degree a node agrees to participate in the network, a Degree-of-Participation-based routing protocol distributes a larger or smaller portion of the routing load to the node. The actual process of deciding their own participation degree is left to the nodes themselves. The individual nodes may each set their own internal policies for determining their participation, rather than requiring the establishment of a uniform, network-wide resource policy. Some of the important issues that we are investigating include:
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