Using Smart Antennas for Ad Hoc Networking

在过去的几年里，两种技术--自组织网络和智能天线系统--相互独立地发展起来。智能天线系统主要是为蜂窝通信系统开发的，而自组织网络技术则是为军事和救灾网络模型开发的。在这项研究中，研究人员计划在自组织网络的背景下使用智能天线系统。研究人员认为，智能天线具有动态形成定向波束的能力，将使自组织网络的容量大幅提高，本研究的方法是利用天线级别获得的到达方向信息来进行MAC和路由协议设计，反之，利用路由和MAC层信息来形成合适的波束。就提高整体系统性能而言，这种集成方法似乎是理想的。计划中的方法将依赖于模拟和建模。为了进行模拟，研究人员建议将智能天线模型添加到NS-2中。此外，由于性能指标之一是能量，研究人员计划在NS-2中加入用于波束形成和到达方向算法的准确能量模型。为此将探索的两种方法之一是NS-2/DSP(数字信号处理器)混合环境，在该环境中，NS-2使用外部DSP来运行天线算法，并将准确测量的能量成本返回给模拟器。研究人员认为，随着智能天线系统的成熟，这些系统是无基础设施网络的正确选择。这项研究将制定协议，并回答与使用智能天线的性能改进和能源成本相关的问题。研究人员希望，这项工作将使其他研究人员也能够探索这种技术的融合。

Over the past several years two technologies, ad hoc networking and smart antenna systems, have developed independently of one another. Smart antenna systems have been developed primarily for cellular communication systems while ad hoc network technology has been developed for military and disaster relief network models. In this research, the researchers plan on utilizing smart antenna systems in the context of ad hoc networking. The researchers believe that smart antennas with their ability to dynamically form directed beams will allow the capacity of ad hoc networks to dramatically increase.The approach in this research is to exploit direction of arrival information obtained atthe antenna level for MAC and routing protocol design and, conversely, use routing and MAC layer information to form appropriate beams. This integrated approach appears to be ideal in terms of improving the overall system performance. The planned approach will rely on simulations as well as modeling. For the simulation, the researchers propose adding smart antenna models into NS-2. In addition, since one of the performance metrics is energy, the researchers plan on incorporating accurate energy models for beamforming and direction of arrival algorithms into NS-2. One of the two approaches that will be explored for this is a mixed NS-2/DSP (Digital Signal Processor) environment in which NS-2 uses external DSPs to run the antenna algorithms and the exact measured energy cost is returned to the simulator.This research will have a significant impact on the existing state of the art in ad hocnetwork design. The researchers believe that as smart antenna systems mature, these systems are the right choice for infrastructureless networks. This research will develop protocols and answer questions related to performance improvements and the energy cost of using smart antennas. The researchers hope that the work will enable other researchers to explore this merging of technologies as well.