TRITON: High speed maritime mesh networks

Abstract

This paper details a novel approach of developing a low-cost and high speed maritime ship-to-ship/shore mesh network to complement or replace satellite communications in narrow water channels or traffic lanes close to shorelines. To design the system, we gathered requirements from typical users of the system. We then carried out preliminary studies such as radio channel propagation over sea water, ship movement patterns, ship rocking and its effect on radio transmission and network connectivity to determine the feasibility of using a mesh network for maritime networks. We present the architecture and detail some of our routing and scheduling design considerations that address the unique challenges of the maritime environment and provide us with framework for providing fair and equal opportunity access to users.