WSN18-6: A Unifying Architecture for Maximal Connectivity in Heterogeneous Ad Hoc Networks

Devices using disparate wireless technologies often cannot communicate directly with each other. However, in many practical scenarios such as disaster management and public safety crises, communication amongst dissimilar wireless networks may become a necessity. We investigate the problem of communication in an ad hoc heterogeneous network comprising of several underlying homogeneous networks. Our proposed solution introduces special multi-interface devices, called drones, that enable communication between dissimilar networks. The optimal placement of drones with accompanying network interfaces is determined by a new placement and interface selection algorithm (PISA). The algorithm is validated, considering example scenarios, using MATLAB simulations. Solutions achievable using PISA result in high connectivity in the heterogeneous network with minimal number of drones and network interfaces.