Resource monitoring issues in ad hoc networks

In this paper we explore the solution space for resource monitoring systems for mobile ad hoc networks. To cope with the range of parameters of interest to an application, we separate the resource monitoring system into an extensible infrastructure and specific sensors, which record network parameters of interest. The monitoring infrastructure includes two abstractions that capture a node´s environment, the neighborhood and the swath. Whereas in a wire-line network information about the nodes along the path from source to destination is sufficient to characterize the connection between source and destination, in mobile networks other nodes within transmit range may have an impact. The paper concludes with a discussion of our experience obtained with a prototype implementation and a summary of preliminary results.