| The current Internet Protocol (IP) architecture model for mobile ad hoc network (MANET) routing protocol development ignores cross-layer effects by seeking to emulate as closely as possible the wireline architecture. Nevertheless, cross-layer effects are unavoidable and it is actually desirable to exploit these interactions to achieve greater performance. Further, support for cross-layer information flow is necessary for many of the applications envisioned for MANETs. We review the purpose of the IP architecture and argue that the MANET architecture model is not only unsuitable for exploiting cross-layer effects it also violates the very intent of the IP architecture. By focusing the standardization effort on making routing solutions and plac-ing them at the point of integration, just above IP in the protocol stack, it effectively stifles the IP development goals of supporting local subnetwork optimization and long term innovation. We re-view issues of cross-layer design and then propose an alternative standardization effort that would preserve the opportunity for innovation while ensuring the integration of MANET subnet-works into larger integrated heterogeneous IP networks. Our proposal places MANET into its own subnetworking layer and then divides standardization into four parts: the interface to the MANET subnetwork, a heterogeneous routing protocol, mecha-nisms for cross-layer information flow, and a combined logical and spatially hierarchical addressing scheme. We identify several more radical MANET design proposals that depart substantially from the current model. All could be integrated into a larger het-erogeneous IP network using our protocol approach. |
| John A. Stine (M'99) received a BS in general engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY in 1981. He received MS degrees in manufacturing systems and electrical engineering from The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX in 1990 and later a PhD in electrical engineering, also from The University of Texas at Austin in 2001.
He served as an engineer officer in the United States Army for 20 years with relevant assignments as an assistant professor in electrical engineering at West Point and as a lead analyst in the Army’s Task Force XXI experiment which was the Army’s first attempt to network a brigade size maneuver force. He has been with The MITRE Corporation in McLean, VA, since 2001 where he does research in ad hoc networking and consults on projects concerning ad hoc networking, spectrum management, and modeling and simulation of command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems. .
Dr. Stine is a registered professional engineer in the state of Virginia.
|