Auto-Configuration in Multi-Hop Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

Abstract

As devices with wireless access technology, greater memory and longer battery life, proliferate, there is a need to be able to allow more than one hop communication amongst them. Also, such a network, with wireless enabled devices, is easier to deploy in case of a disaster. But, these devices that participate to form a multi-hop Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET), need a unique identifier such as an Internet Protocol (IP) address to be able to participate in networking. To deploy and access services in this network they also need a service management infrastructure. In the wired and wireless local area network such an identifier is provided either by static assignment or via auto-configuration protocols such as Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). To support service discovery, the Domain Name System (DNS) translates from the name of the service to the IP address associated with it. Distributed Hash Table (DHT) based protocols such as Chord have been used for service discovery and content management. This thesis exposes the problem of configuring networks that experience partitions and mergers due to disasters. Thus, physical damages to networks may affect service architectures. This thesis illustrates with specific examples, how adaptation of existing solutions does not solve the problem. It recommends the use of a protocol that allows concurrent joins and leaves.