Multihop sensor network design for wide-band communications

This paper presents a master/slave cellular-based mobile ad hoc network architecture for multihop multimedia communications. The proposed network is based on a new paradigm for solving the problem of cluster-based ad hoc routing when utilizing existing wireless local area network (WLAN) technologies. The network architecture is a mixture of two different types of networks: infrastructure (master-and-slave) and ad hoc. In this architecture, the participating slave nodes (SNs) in each cluster communicate with each other via their respective master nodes (MNs) in an infrastructure network. In contrast to traditional cellular networks where the base stations are fixed (e.g., interconnected via a wired backbone), in this network the MNs (e.g., base stations) are mobile; thus, interconnection is accomplished dynamically and in an ad hoc manner. For network implementation, the IEEE 802.11 WLAN has been deployed. Since there is no stationary node in this network, all the nodes in a cluster may have to move together as a group. However, in order to allow a mobile node to move to another cluster, which requires changing its point of attachment, a handoff process utilizing Mobile IP version 6 (IPv6) has been considered. For ad hoc routing between the master nodes (i.e., MNs), the Ad hoc On-demand Distance Vector (AODV) Routing protocol has been deployed. In assessing the network performance, field test trials have been carried out to measure the proposed network performance. These measurements include packet loss, delays under various test conditions such as a change of ad hoc route, handoffs, etc.