Communicating Embedded Systems: Networks Applications

Chapter 10

Routing and Mobility Management in Personal Networks ¹

10.1. Introduction

Embedded communication systems have benefited from the evolution of mobile networks towards B3G (beyond third generation). This evolution has allowed us to supply a set of advanced and innovative functions with cooperative services, rich in content and personalized to respond to users’ needs [ROU 03]. Several aspects of cooperation and personalization services have already emerged, such as for example, interpersonal communications (personal networks (PNs)), vehicular networks (also called intelligent transportation systems), community networks, and meshed networks. These cooperative systems benefit from B3G convergence platforms, which have demonstrated their performance in terms of optimization of bandwidth use, coverage, and availability.

Communication models for PNs propel a multitude of new services that take advantage of “cooperative clouds” resulting from the emergence of social and community networks [SAN 03]. In this context, new domains of application are possible as in home networks (the “digital home”) and healthcare. A concrete example of a service that demonstrates these concepts is the cooperative distribution of multimedia content in home networks [DLN 06]. Another service that makes use of the cooperative behavior of networks includes the sharing of resources in community groups (for example, users sharing dynamic content similar to popular web services such as MySpace or YouTube). ...