Research Issues in Ad Hoc Network Design
Abstract
This paper explores and develops some of the critical research issues in ad hoc network design. Although ad hoc network technology is critical to such major Army Programs as FCS and WIN-T, the design of ad hoc networks to meet a set of military technical and operational requirements has been shown to be more of an art than a science. For purposes of this paper, an ad hoc network is only the communication subsystem of a C4ISR network. The problem domain is exceedingly complex and rich with numerous tradeoffs, but is hampered by a lack of mathematical descriptions, tools and relationships to conduct those tradeoffs and analyses. In contrast to wired networks, where only the traffic loading is stochastic, wireless networks themselves, in addition to the traffic loadings, are also stochastic in nature. This dual stochastic nature of both the traffic and the network carrying the traffic poses significant challenges in both the modeling and design of mobile ad hoc networks. In this paper we consider network design at three distinct but interrelated levels. At the highest level, we are concerned with the overall network structure, specifically network connectivity, network capacity (in terms of end to end throughput/goodput, delay, and probability of packet loss) and network survivability. We present and discuss some mathematically based definitions of these quantities. At the next lower level, we discuss some issues with the network node design. At this level, we are concerned with issues of link design, media access, transmitter power, etc. Finally, at the lowest level of design, we present some issues in the evolving area of cross layer protocol design. Finally this paper concludes with discussion of some research issues in the design process.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA481280
Entities
People
- Charles Graff