Using
mobile mesh technology, ad-hoc networks can be created among entities (stations or
clients) instantaneously without requiring infrastructure, as shown in Figure 11.2. Some of
the principal characteristics and benefits of mobile mesh networks are listed in Table 11.3.
An infrastructure can be used where available to reach external sites, such as Internet.
Mobile nodes need to carry out authentication in both fixed and mobile meshes - when
nodes see a new neighbor in a mobile mesh or when they access a new AP in a fixed
infrastructure. However, in a mobile mesh, authentication may need to be carried out in a
distributed manner within the mesh itself as no infrastructure connection can be assumed to
be present. In a fixed infrastructure, mobile nodes may be able to connect to a central
authenticating server, which might cause more handoff delay.
Figure 11.2: An autonomous mobile mesh network forming instantly at an incident scene.
Table 11.3: Characteristics and benefits of autonomous mobile mesh networks.
Characteristics Benefits
Self-forming Infrastructure is optional
Self-healing Alternate paths automatically found
Multi-hop routing Bandwidth reuse
Distributed Survivable
Autonomous Mobile Mesh Networks and their Design Challenges 249
There are thus significant distinctions between mobile mesh and fixed infrastructure
systems.
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