Network topology management for mobile ad hoc networks with directional links

This paper investigates efficient solutions for network topology management in mobile ad hoc networks that use directional phased array antennas (PAA). Aerial backbone nodes (ABN) that are equipped with PAA in the battlefield can provide high data rate wireless links with very long ranges (∼500 miles) to meet the needs of future network centric warfare systems. However, the directionality of the PAA interface makes the design of network protocols very challenging, and raises unique issues that rarely occur in traditional, omni-antenna based mobile ad hoc wireless networks. Efficient link selection scheme design is critical to form a robust network mesh that is highly adaptive to user traffic requirement and dynamic changing network topologies. In this paper, we present a set of solutions to address aforementioned challenges. Our mesh formation and maintenance approach is based on a minimum cost link selection algorithm with connectivity prediction and traffic adaptation. We also implement our protocols in simulation and present the performance evaluation.