Ad Hoc Networks: Routing, Qos and Optimization

Chapter 4

Quality of Service in MANETs

 

 

 

4.1. Introduction

Given the dynamic topology of mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) and the limited bandwidth available, supplying quality of service (QoS) is a major challenge. Several research projects are currently underway with the aim of providing QoS on the Internet and in other network architectures, but most of the proposed solutions are incompatible with ad hoc networks. The study of QoS for ad hoc networks is important, as QoS would enable more sensitive network administration and more equal resource sharing, optimizing network costs.

For QoS to be supported, link information such as delay, available bandwidth, cost, and error levels needs to be available and controllable. However, it is difficult to obtain this kind of information in ad hoc networks as the radio link changes according to environmental circumstances. Limited resources and node mobility complicate the task still further.

The standardization of routing protocols for ad hoc networks has aroused growing interest among research groups in the field, which aim to improve performance and satisfy application constraints. A number of drafts have appeared on the subject, notably from the MANET, HIPERCOM, and Nokia searching center (NSC) groups. They deal with different ad hoc protocols in great detail, including ad hoc on-demand distance-vector (AODV), dynamic source routing, optimized link-state routing (OLSR), and TBRPF. Multimedia applications usually require QoS guarantees ...