QoS support based on a mobile routing backbone for ad hoc wireless networks

Abstract

Ad hoc wireless networks (AWNs) obey a unique organizational and behavioral logic since they operate without a fixed infrastructure. Mobile nodes must collaborate amongst themselves to interconnect, organize the topology and establish communication. Moreover, their networking characteristics highlight a new breed of unresolved routing and Quality of Service problems. This article presents new approach for QoS support in AWNs. The fundamental idea behind our approach is to identify nodes in the network that can partake in a QoS mobile routing backbone (MRB). Only nodes having routing abilities and sufficient resources can join the backbone. QoS is supported through efficient bandwidth allocation and load balancing. The routing mechanism guides incoming data flows through network regions made up of nodes rich in resources and interconnected through stable links. Results obtained are encouraging and bring to light the ability our mechanisms to support QoS in AWNs.