NeTS: Small: Understanding Communication Strategies for Ad hoc Networks

Ad-hoc网络有很大的前景，但有大量的竞争性建议来组织这样的网络。不幸的是，一般来说，在任何给定的部署中，如何在各种建议的设计中进行选择是不清楚的。作为回应，该项目提出了一个基本问题：节点的集合应该如何决定在组织成网络时采用什么样的基本架构？ 候选的基本架构包括那些通过传统的路由协议组织，采用流行病协议，或使用延迟容忍网络协议。这个项目的方法的问题之一，决定什么状态应该保持，以及多久，状态应该保持，在网络中。 相关状态包括控制状态（网络的属性）和数据状态（传输中的数据）。该项目将网络的动态属性与要维护的控制和数据状态的性质联系起来。一个关键的项目输出是识别网络和流量特征，可用于确定适当的控制和数据状态维护级别。这些特征对不同类别的沟通策略的影响正在得到严格的评估。该项目正在利用所确定的特征开发信令机制，以确保通信策略最佳地适应不断变化的网络条件。该项目的结果将是在新环境中创建特设网络的更强大和更广泛有效的方法。这些环境可能包括战场和灾后部署，在这些环境中，必须在不可预见的条件下快速创建网络。

Ad-hoc networks hold great promise, but there is a vast array of competing proposals for organizing such networks. Unfortunately it is unclear, in general, how to choose among the various proposed designs in any given deployment. In response, this project is asking a fundamental question: how should a collection of nodes decide what basic architecture to adopt in organizing into a network? Candidate basic architectures include those that organize via traditional routing protocols, employ epidemic protocols, or use delay-tolerant networking protocols. This project approaches the question as one of deciding what state should be maintained, and how long that state should be maintained, in the network. Relevant state includes both control state (properties of the network) and data state (the data in transit). The project is connecting dynamic properties of the network with the nature of control and data state to be maintained. A key project output is an identification of the network and traffic characteristics that can be used to determine an appropriate level of control and data state maintenance. The effect of these characteristics on the different classes of communication strategies is being rigorously evaluated. Using the characteristics that are identified, the project is developing signaling mechanisms to ensure that communication strategies optimally adapt to changing network conditions. The result of the project will be more robust and broadly effective methods for creating ad hoc networks in new environments. Such environments can include battlefields as well as post-disaster deployments, where networks must be created quickly under unanticipated conditions.