Service Architecture for Integrating MANETs with Heterogeneous IP Networks.pdfVIP

Service Architecture for Integrating MANETs with Heterogeneous IP Networks Joe C. Chan, Doan B. Hoang Advanced Research in Networking Laboratory University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) Broadway NSW 2007 Australia Abstract – Multi-hop Ad-hoc Network is promising to extend the reach of current Mobile Internet, and support ubiquitous computing. However, it is hindered by the lack of a flexible network structure bridging the gaps between MANETs and heterogeneous IP networks. This paper introduces a novel Mobile Peer-to-Peer Overlay as an enabling structure for uniting connectivity, mobility and services. Our proposed service architecture allows mobile users to build networks on-the-fly, and capitalize relevant resources in their vicinity for universal communications. Practical implementation of system prototype demonstrates that our proposed framework lays a solid foundation for developing an Integrated Mobile Internet and Ubiquitous Computing. I. INTRODUCTION Wireless Internet is emerging as networks of choice for nomadic users because of the flexibility and freedom it offers. However, contemporary Mobile Internet has its applications limited only within designated coverage areas, and is incapable of dealing with unmanaged network environments. These practical issues drive the global research and developments [1, 2] towards ubiquitous connectivity so that a new era of communications will bring together a multitude of wired and wireless technologies in an ad-hoc manner [3]. The result is a new type of network – Mobile Ad-hoc Network (MANET), which is promising to enhance traditional wireless networks via dynamic multi-hop communications. It also opens the door to ubiquitous computing [4] (also called pervasive computing). MANET is a distributed mobile system originally designed for military and emergency rescue operations where a priori set-up is simply impossible. Its dynamic and transient properties share some similarities and