Ubiquitous Zone (U-Zone) based Community Networking Technologies

This work introduces ubiquitous zone (u-zone) based community networking technologies project aimed at providing ubiquitous computing environment for community networking. A u-zone network architecture with ubiquitous zone master (u-ZM), which manages u-zone, is proposed. These u-ZMs form a mesh network via wireless backbone (WBB). Thus, u-zone network can be considered as a hybrid network of MANET between u-ZM and nodes and mesh network between u-ZMs. Either proactive or reactive routing protocol can be used in intrazone routing and inter-zone routing in the u-zone network. Thus, four routing modes are proposed and the detailed operations of them are illustrated. Then, the pros and cons of the four routing modes are discussed. Also, the proposed u-zone network supports routing between nodes operating with heterogeneous routing protocols in the same u-zone by heterogeneous routing protocol coordinator (HRPC). Our u-zone network with u-ZMs will serve as a new network infrastructure for future community networking for ubiquitous computing