By Humayun Bakht
Wireless networks can be classified as two types, wireless fixed networks, and wireless ad-hoc networks. Wireless fixed networks operate with the help of different network equipment, such as base stations, while wireless ad-hoc networks offer a unique art of network formation by utilizing radio waves for data transmission without the need of any extra infrastructure. This characteristic allows mobile ad-hoc networks to be deployed any place, at any time. There's little doubt as to the potential benefits of this technology.
Work is being done on various platforms to provide support functions and solutions to the problems associated with mobile ad-hoc networks. Some of the challenging issues of the technology are the routing mechanisms, bandwidth constraints, and security, while some of the potential application areas are sensor networks, disaster relief, and the small office meeting.
Although efforts to resolve various issues have been ongoing for over a decade, most of the efforts have been distributed. There was a solid need to establish some sort of controlling body, which is capable of both monitoring ongoing projects in the field, and suggesting different standards for routine network functions for the mobile ad-hoc network.
Not long ago a working group for mobile ad-hoc networks was established, whose main aim was to organize ongoing research efforts on a single, large platform. As mentioned in many of my previous articles, in the mobile ad-hoc network, you may find multiple solutions for a single problem. Therefore it becomes absolutely crucial to organize all of these solutions into a form that gives a clear view to both the vendors and consumers, and perfectly matches their needs.
The uncertainty in the node topologies within a wireless region could be regarded as one of the fundamental issues of the mobile ad-hoc network. One of the tasks of the working group is to standardize IP routing protocol functionality for wireless routing applications, both within static and dynamic types of topologies. Other set tasks include exploration of mobile ad-hoc network problems on a large scale, related performance issues, and further development of related proposed protocols.
Recently, other modifications have been made to the initial charter of this working group. These focus on the operation of ad-hoc networks under a reduced scope by targeting the promotion of a number of different routing protocol specifications to experimental status. Although some understanding and implementation of these protocols already exists, more operational experimentation is required. Overall, these protocols provide a basic set of mobile ad-hoc network capabilities, covering both reactive and proactive design spaces.
