.FLYINGHEAD WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE
.TITLE Sensor networks and ad-hoc networking
.AUTHOR Humayun Bakht
.SUMMARY How do ad-hoc sensors networks differ from regular networks? In this article, Contributing Editor Humayun Bakht answers just that question.
.OTHER
An ad-hoc or short-live network is the network of two or more mobile devices connected to each other without the help of intervening infrastructure. In contrast to a fixed wireless network, an ad-hoc network can be deployed in remote geographical locations and requires minimum setup and administration costs. Moreover, the integration of an ad-hoc network with a bigger network-such as the Internet-or a wireless infrastructure network increases the coverage area and application domain of the ad-hoc network. However, communication in an ad-hoc network between different hosts that are not directly linked is an issue not only for search and rescue operations, but also for educational and business purposes.
An ad-hoc network can be classified into two main types: mobile ad-hoc network and mobile ad-hoc sensors network. Unlike typical sensor networks, which communicate directly with the centralized controller, a mobile ad-hoc sensor network follows a broader sequence of operational scenarios, thus demanding a less complex setup procedure. A mobile ad-hoc sensor or hybrid ad-hoc network consists of a number of sensor spreads in a geographical area. Each sensor is capable of mobile communication and has some level of intelligence to process signals and to transmit data. In order to support routed communications between two mobile nodes, the routing protocol determines the node connectivity and routes packets accordingly. This makes a mobile ad-hoc sensor network highly adaptable so that it can be deployed in almost all environments.
Mobile ad-hoc sensor networks are very beneficial in different scenarios. These networks advance operational efficiency of certain civilian applications. For example, in a military operation, it can be used to gather information about enemy location, movement, etc. As a mobile traffic sensor networks, it can be used to monitor vehicle traffic on motorways, and as a mobile surveillance sensor network, it can be used for providing security in various places such as shopping malls, hotels, and in other similar facilities. Mobile ad-hoc sensor networks can also be use to locate free and occupied spots in a parking area and to monitor environmental changes in places like forests, oceans, etc.
The mobile ad-hoc sensor network is a new invention with long-term potential for transforming our daily lives. In mobile ad-hoc sensor networks, each host may be equipped with a variety of sensors that can be organized to detect different local events. Moreover, an ad-hoc sensor network offers low setup and administration costs. We can expect to see their deployment on a wide scale in the near future.
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