Wireless ad hoc network

Wireless ad hoc network


A wireless ad hoc network is a decentralized wireless network.[1] The network is ad hoc because each node is willing to forward data for other nodes, and so the determination of which nodes forward data is made dynamically based on the network connectivity. This is in contrast to wired networks in which routers perform the task of routing. It is also in contrast to managed (infrastructure) wireless networks, in which a special node known as an access point manages communication among other nodes.

The earliest wireless ad hoc networks were the "packet radio" networks (PRNETs) from the 1970s, sponsored by DARPA after the ALOHAnet project.

Application

The decentralized nature of wireless ad hoc networks makes them suitable for a variety of applications where central nodes can't be relied on, and may improve the scalability of wireless ad hoc networks compared to wireless managed networks, though theoretical[2] and practical[3] limits to the overall capacity of such networks have been identified.

Minimal configuration and quick deployment make ad hoc networks suitable for emergency situations like natural disasters or military conflicts. The presence of a dynamic and adaptive routing protocol will enable ad hoc networks to be formed quickly.

Wireless ad hoc networks can be further classified by their application:

* mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs)
* wireless mesh networks
* wireless sensor networks.


Wireless ad hoc network


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_ad_hoc_network