Wireless Ad Hoc Network

A Wireless Ad Hoc Network is a decentralized wireless network where each node in the network participates in routing by forwarding data for other nodes, and the determination of which nodes forward data is made dynamically based on the network connectivity.

• AKA: Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET).
• Context:
  • It can (typically) operate without a centralized administration, as each node acts as both a host and a router, forwarding packets for other nodes.
  • It can (often) support dynamic topologies, as nodes can join or leave the network at any time and move around, causing frequent changes in routes.
  • It can range from being a small network of a few devices in close proximity to being a large, complex network covering a wide area.
  • It can (often) use protocols such as AODV (Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector) or DSR (Dynamic Source Routing) to determine the optimal path for data transmission.
  • It can be used in various applications, including military operations, disaster recovery, and sensor networks where establishing fixed infrastructure is not feasible.
  • It can (often) face challenges related to security, scalability, and power consumption due to the lack of a centralized authority and the mobility of the nodes.
  • It can (typically) employ various routing algorithms to maintain efficient communication paths, including proactive, reactive, and hybrid protocols.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • an emergency response network that showcases the use of MANETs to facilitate communication among first responders in areas where traditional communication infrastructure has been destroyed.
  • a military battlefield network that demonstrates the use of MANETs for secure and reliable communication among soldiers and equipment in rapidly changing environments.
  • a vehicular ad hoc network (VANET) that highlights the use of MANET principles to manage communication between vehicles for traffic management and safety applications.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Fixed Wireless Networks, which rely on fixed infrastructure such as base stations or access points for communication.
  • Cellular Networks, which depend on a centralized control system and established infrastructure for routing and data transmission.
• See: Wireless Mesh Network, Sensor network, AODV, DSR, Link Layer, Wireless Network, ad Hoc, Router (Computing), Wireless Access Point, Node (Networking), Packet Forwarding, Routing Algorithm, Network Packet, Goodput, Bandwidth (Computing), Internet.

---

---

References

2024

• (Wikipedia, 2024) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_ad_hoc_network Retrieved:2024-5-29.
  • A wireless ad hoc network (WANET) or mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is a decentralized type of wireless network. The network is ad hoc because it does not rely on a pre-existing infrastructure, such as routers or wireless access points. Instead, each node participates in routing by forwarding data for other nodes. The determination of which nodes forward data is made dynamically on the basis of network connectivity and the routing algorithm in use.

    Such wireless networks lack the complexities of infrastructure setup and administration, enabling devices to create and join networks "on the fly".

    Each device in a MANET is free to move independently in any direction, and will therefore change its links to other devices frequently. Each must forward traffic unrelated to its own use, and therefore be a router. The primary challenge in building a MANET is equipping each device to continuously maintain the information required to properly route traffic. This becomes harder as the scale of the MANET increases due to 1) the desire to route packets to/through every other node, 2) the percentage of overhead traffic needed to maintain real-time routing status, 3) each node has its own goodput to route independent and unaware of others needs, and 4) all must share limited communication bandwidth, such as a slice of radio spectrum.

    Such networks may operate by themselves or may be connected to the larger Internet. They may contain one or multiple and different transceivers between nodes. This results in a highly dynamic, autonomous topology. MANETs usually have a routable networking environment on top of a link layer ad hoc network.

---