Route selection for data packets in a tactical packet radio network using integrated voice and data transmissions

Integration of data networking into traditional voice only systems, such as SINCGARS and HAVEQUICK, is necessary to meet evolving multimedia communication requirements. The success of this integration is dependent on the development of improved channel-access and network protocols that allow simultaneous voice and data information transfer. In previous work we investigated a system design that includes a new waveform and channel-access protocols to support integrated voice and data transmissions in a multiple-hop packet radio network. In this article we present network protocols that support multiple-hop relaying of data packets in a mobile packet radio network. An adaptive forwarding protocol is defined that can respond quickly to local changes in the environment and traffic load. An OPNET simulation, which models the physical, channel-access, and network layers, is implemented to characterize the performance of the network protocols. We show the ability of the network to support relaying of data traffic, and we show the improvement in performance that is achieved through the use of the adaptive forwarding protocol