Proactive Topology Reinforcement of Wireless Networks

Traditional ad hoc wireless networks designed for best effort performance lack provisions to maintain network connectivity, particularly if nodes are mobile. For applications that require continual and timely service, current commercial grade ad hoc wireless networks cannot satisfy these demands. We study several architecture options that proactively deploy additional fixed or mobile infrastructure nodes (we call helper nodes) to help maintain user network connectivity. Our goal is to answer the questions of when and how helper nodes should be used. Using random line networks as a point of departure, we compare random and strategic helper node deployment schemes and show that at a nominal normalized user node density of N ~ 1, the number of helper nodes needed under random helper deployment can be more than 10 times the number needed under strategic deployment. At lower TV, this factor increases significantly without bound. Based on the expected number of helper nodes needed for different values of N, we delineate scenarios where each scheme is a sensible architecture choice.