Ad Hoc Networks

Ad Hoc Networks An ad-hoc network is a local area network (LAN) that is built spontaneously as devices connect. Instead of relying on a base station to coordinate the flow of messages to each node in the network, the individual network nodes forward packets to and from each other. In Latin, ad hoc literally means "for this," meaning "for this special purpose" and also, by extension, improvised or impromptu. In the Windows operating system, ad-hoc is a communication mode (setting) that allows computers to directly communicate with each other without a router. The Ad Hoc Networks is an international and archival journal providing a publication vehicle for complete coverage of all topics of interest to those involved in ad hoc and sensor networking areas. The Ad Hoc Networks considers original, high quality and unpublished contributions addressing all aspects of ad hoc and sensor networks. Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to: •

Mobile and Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

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Sensor Networks

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Wireless Local and Personal Area Networks

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Home Networks

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Ad Hoc Networks of Autonomous Intelligent Systems

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Novel Architectures for Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks

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Self-organizing Network Architectures and Protocols

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Transport Layer Protocols

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Routing protocols (unicast, multicast, geocast, etc.)

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Media Access Control Techniques

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Error Control Schemes

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Power-Aware, Low-Power and Energy-Efficient Designs

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Synchronization and Scheduling Issues

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Mobility Management

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Mobility-Tolerant Communication Protocols

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Location Tracking and Location-based Services

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Resource and Information Management

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Security and Fault-Tolerance Issues

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Hardware and Software Platforms, Systems, and Testbeds

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Experimental and Prototype Results

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Quality-of-Service Issues

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Cross-Layer Interactions

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Scalability Issues

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Performance Analysis and Simulation of Protocols Peer-to-peer

Peer-to-peer is a communications model in which each party has the same capabilities and either party can initiate a communication session. Other models with which it might be contrasted include the client/server model and the master/slave model. In some cases, peerto-peer

communications

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giving

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communication node both server and client capabilities. In recent usage, peer-to-peer has come to describe applications in which users can use the Internet to exchange files with each other directly or through a mediating server. IBM's Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking (APPN) is an example of a product that supports the peer-to-peer communication model. On the Internet, peer-to-peer (referred to as P2P) is a type of transient Internet network that allows a group of computer users with the same networking program to connect with each other and directly access files from one another's hard drives. Napster and Gnutella are examples of this kind of peer-to-peer software. Major producers of content, including record companies, have shown their concern about what they consider illegal sharing of copyrighted content by suing some P2P users.

Meanwhile, corporations are looking at the advantages of using P2P as a way for employees to share files without the expense involved in maintaining a centralized server and as a way for businesses to exchange information with each other directly. How Does Internet P2P Work? The user must first download and execute a peer-to-peer networking program. (Gnutellanet is currently one of the most popular of these decentralized P2P programs because it allows users to exchange all types of files.) After launching the program, the user enters the IP address of another computer belonging to the network. (Typically, the Web page where the user got the download will list several IP addresses as places to begin). Once the computer finds another network member on-line, it will connect to that user's connection (who has gotten their IP address from another user's connection and so on). Users can choose how many member connections to seek at one time and determine which files they wish to share or password protect. Node In a network, a node is a connection point, either a redistribution point or an end point for data transmissions. In general, a node has programmed or engineered capability to recognize and process or forward transmissions to other nodes.