Routing, mobility management and network middleware for heterogeneous mobile wireless networks

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Wireless Networks evolve over the years, driven by the development in radio access technology and the diversity of application demands, to 3G cellular networks, ad hoc networks, mesh networks, and more upcoming sensor networks. Diverse and evolving application requirements and usage scenarios indicate that a future wireless network would be a heterogeneous network formed by integrating the above access networks through a common platform of IP network. The objective of the proposed research is to investigate three problem areas in heterogeneous wireless networks: Routing, Mobility Management, and Network Middleware. Each of these problems is critical for future wireless networks. Also, we have opportunity of leveraging our current research and expertise in dealing with pressing issues related to these problems. Routing is a fundamental network service, which becomes complex for wireless networks due to a host of challenges related to mobility, power constraints, wireless link instability, and path interference. Smart antenna and sophisticated power control approach bring opportunities in improving link throughput and reducing the blockage of paths due to interference caused by ongoing communication in multi-hop wireless networks. However, it also brings complexity in the route control and selection process. Mobility management is critical for the performance of maintaining communication of mobile nodes. It becomes more complicated for high-speed and heterogeneous wireless networks. Conventional approach of applications accessing network services is through communication stack and socket API. Heterogeneity, mobility, ubiquity and unique characteristics of above access networks pose new challenges to the access and management of network services, which can no longer be provided by simple conventional mechanisms.  Network middleware is important in providing a platform for the implementation of sophisticated algorithms and the facilitation of application development and deployment.