What is Ad hoc Networks?

Peer to peer communication by use of Wi-Fi technology

without passing through an access point (AP)

Introduction
Why Ad hoc Networks?

No infrastructure needed
Can be deployed quickly, where there is no wireless
communication infrastructure present
Can act as an extension to existing networks
Cost-effective
Adaptive computing and self-configuring

Application of Mobile Ad hoc
Network
Tactical networks:
Military communication and operations
Automated battlefields

Emergency services:
Search and rescue operations
Disaster recovery
Replacement of fixed infrastructure in case of environmental disasters.
Policing and fire fighting.
Supporting doctors and nurses in hospitals.

Commercial and civilian environments:
E-commerce: electronic payments anytime and anywhere
Business: dynamic database access, mobile offices
Vehicular services: road or accident guidance, transmission of road and weather
conditions, taxi cab network, inter-vehicle networks
Sports stadiums, trade fairs, shopping malls
Networks of visitors at airports

Home and enterprise networking:
Home/office wireless networking
Conferences, meeting rooms
Personal area networks (PAN), Personal networks (PN)
Networks at construction sites

Education :
Universities and campus settings
Virtual classrooms
Ad hoc communications during meetings or lectures

Entertainment:
Multi-user games
Wireless P2P networking
Outdoor Internet access
Robotic pets
Theme parks

Application of Mobile Ad hoc
Network
Sensor networks:
Home applications: smart sensors embedded in consumer electronics
Body area networks (BAN)
Data tracking of environmental conditions, animal movements,
chemical/biological detection

Context aware services:
Follow-on services: call-forwarding, mobile workspace
Information services: location specific services, time dependent services


Coverage extension:
Extending cellular network access
Linking up with the Internet, intranets, etc.

Application of Mobile Ad hoc
Network
Comparisons between Cellular and Ad
Hoc Wireless Networks (I)

Cellular Networks Ad Hoc Wireless Networks
Fixed infrastructure-based Infrastructureless
Guaranteed bandwidth (designed for
voice traffic)
Shared radio channel (more suitable for
best-effort data traffic)
Centralized routing Distributed routing
Circuit-switched (evolving toward
packet switching)
Packet-switched (evolving toward
emulation of circuit switching)
Seamless connectivity (low call drops
during handoffs)
Frequent path breaks due to mobility
High cost and time of deployment Quick and cost-effective deployment
Reuse of frequency spectrum through
geographical channel reuse
Dynamic frequency reuse based on
carrier sense mechanism
Easier to employ bandwidth reservation Bandwidth reservation requires complex
medium access control protocols
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Comparisons between Cellular and Ad
Hoc Wireless Networks (II)


Cellular Networks Ad Hoc Wireless Networks
Application domains include mainly
civilian and commercial sectors
Application domains include battlefields,
emergency search and rescue operations,
and collaborative computing
High cost of network maintenance
(backup power source, staffing, etc.)
Self-organization and maintenance
properties are built into the network
Mobile hosts are of relatively low
complexity
Mobile hosts require more intelligence
(should have a transceiver as well as
routing/switching capability)
Major goals of routing and call
admission are to maximize the call
acceptance ratio and minimize the call
drop ratio
Main aim of routing is to find paths with
minimum overhead and also quick
reconfiguration of broken paths
Widely deployed and currently in the
third generation of evolution
Several issues are to be addressed for
successful commercial deployment even
though widespread use exists in defense
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