QoS-aware TDMA for end-to-end traffic scheduling in ad hoc networks

The proliferation of low-cost broadband air interfaces has paved the way to the introduction of high-definition multimedia services in mobile and wireless networks. The cost for network resources utilization, when provisioning such services, will play a prominent role in their commercial success, since the more spare resources that can be used, the more cheaply the services can be delivered to the end users. In the context of promoting the role of ad hoc networks as service platforms for high quality multimedia applications, this article first discusses and classifies a set of issues involved in quality of service (QoS) provisioning in ad hoc networks and then presents a congestion-free TDMA algorithm for end-to-end network resources assignment via an optimized mechanism that relies on capacity requests and grants. The article also illustrates a method for invoking this algorithm to achieve efficient end-to-end QoS provisioning and concludes by showing the superiority of the proposed algorithm, as compared to other recently proposed TDMA scheduling algorithms     

Self-organized public-key management for mobile ad hoc networks

In contrast with conventional networks, mobile ad hoc networks usually do not provide online access to trusted authorities or to centralized servers, and they exhibit frequent partitioning due to link and node failures and to node mobility. For these reasons, traditional security solutions that require online trusted authorities or certificate repositories are not well-suited for securing ad hoc networks. We propose a fully self-organized public-key management system that allows users to generate their public-private key pairs, to issue certificates, and to perform authentication regardless of the network partitions and without any centralized services. Furthermore, our approach does not require any trusted authority, not even in the system initialization phase.     

Media Streaming With Network Diversity

Today's packet networks including the Internet offer an intrinsic diversity for media distribution in terms of available network paths and servers or information sources. Novel communication infrastructures such as ad hoc or wireless mesh networks use network diversity to extend their reach at low cost. Diversity can bring interesting benefits in supporting resource greedy applications such as media streaming services, by aggregation of bandwidth and computing resources. Typically, overlay network architectures compensate for lack of quality-of-service guarantees in the network by introducing redundancy in the media delivery system through network diversity. They can support efficient multimedia services when routing, coding, and scheduling algorithms are able to adapt to both the media information and the dynamic network status. This paper presents an overview of the distributed streaming solutions that profit from network diversity in order to improve the quality of multimedia applications. We discuss the coding techniques used for adaptive and flexible media streaming with network diversity. We describe the problem of media streaming with path diversity and focus on routing, path computation, and packet scheduling problems in multipath networks. Then, the advantages of server or source peer diversity in collaborative streaming solutions are discussed. Lastly, we present an overview of wireless mesh networks and focus on the typical constraints imposed by these novel communication models on media streaming with network diversity.     

Delay constraint multipath routing for wireless multimedia ad hoc networks

According to the disadvantages of real time and continuity for multimedia services in ad hoc networks, a delay constraint multipath routing protocol for wireless multimedia ad hoc networks, which can satisfy quality of service (QoS) requirement (QoS multipath optimized link state routing [MOLSR]), is proposed. The protocol firstly detects and analyzes the link delay among the nodes and collects the delay information as the routing metric by HELLO message and topology control message. Then, through using the improved multipath Dijkstra algorithm for path selection, the protocol can gain the minimum delay path from the source node to the other nodes. Finally, when the route is launched, several node‐disjoint or link‐disjoint multipaths will be built through the route computation. The simulation and test results show that QoS‐MOLSR is suitable for large and dense networks with heavy traffic. It can improve the real time and reliability for multimedia transmission in wireless multimedia ad hoc networks. The average end‐to‐end delay of QoS‐MOLSR is four times less than the optimized link state routing. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

移动自组网络MANET路由策略综述

路由策略是网络技术研究的焦点问题之一。由于移动自组网络MANET中节点的动态性和节点资源的有限性,以及多媒体应用服务质量的需求,导致在MANET网络实现路由存在诸多困难。综述了目前文献中基于MANET网络的普通路由协议和满足服务质量需求的QoS路由协议/算法,详细说明了不同协议的实现过程和存在的优缺点,并指出了目前路由策略研究中存在的问题和将来的发展方向。     

QoE in video streaming over wireless networks: perspectives and research challenges

The deployment of 3G/LTE networks and advancements in smart mobile devices had led to high demand for multimedia streaming over wireless network. The rapid increasing demand for multimedia content poses challenges for all parties in a multimedia streaming system, namely, content providers, wireless network service providers, and smart device makers. Content providers and mobile network service providers are both striving to improve their streaming services while utilizing advancing technologies. Smart device makers endeavor to improve processing power and displays for better viewing experience. Ultimately, the common goal shared by content providers, network service providers, and smart device manufactures is to improve the QoE for users. QoE is both an objective and a subjective metric measuring the streaming quality experience by end users. It may be measured by streaming bitrate, playback smoothness, video quality metrics like Peak to Signal Noise Ratio, and other user satisfaction factors. There have been efforts made to improve the streaming experiences in all these aspects. In this paper, we conducted a survey on existing literatures on QoE of video streaming to gain a deeper and more complete understanding of QoE quality metrics. The goal is to inspire new research directions in defining better QoE and improving QoE in existing and new streaming services such as adaptive streaming and 3D video streaming.     

An efficient QoS routing algorithm for solving MCP in ad hoc networks

Providing guaranteed quality of service (QoS) in wireless networks is a key issue for deploying multimedia applications. To support such a QoS, an arduous problem concerning how to find a feasible end to end path to satisfy multiple QoS constraints should be studied. In general, multi-constrained path selection, with or without optimization, is an NP-complete problem that cannot be exactly solved in polynomial time. Approximation algorithms and heuristics with polynomial and pseudo-polynomial time complexities are often used to deal with this problem. However, existing solutions suffer either from excessive computational complexities that cannot be used for multimedia applications in ad hoc networks characterized by mobility and performance constraints (e.g., limited energy, wireless medium, etc.). Recently a promising heuristic algorithm H_MCOP using a non linear Lagrange relaxation path functions has demonstrated an improvement in its success rate and in finding feasible paths. However, the H_MCOP is not suitable for ad hoc networks and has not exploited the full capability that a Lagrange relaxation could offer. In this paper, we propose an efficient multi-constrained path heuristic called E_MCP, which exploits efficiently the Lagrange relaxation and enhances the path search process to be adequate to mobile ad hoc networks. Using extensive simulations on random mobile network with correlated and uncorrelated link weights, we show that the same level of computational complexity, E_MCP can achieve a higher success ratio of finding feasible paths.     

Stable routing algorithm for mobile ad hoc networks using mobile agent

Wireless ad hoc networks are growing important because of their mobility, versatility, and ability to work with fewer infrastructures. The mobile ad hoc network is an autonomous system consisting of mobile nodes connected with wireless links. Establishing a path between two nodes is a complex task in wireless networks. It is still more complex in the wireless mobile ad hoc network because every node is no longer as an end node and an intermediate node. In this paper, it focuses on design of connectionless routing protocol for the wireless ad hoc networks based on the mobile agent concept. The proposed model tries to discover the best path taking into consideration some concerns like bandwidth, reliability, and congestion of the link. The proposed model has been simulated and tested under various wireless ad hoc network environments with the help of a different number of nodes. The results demonstrate that the proposed model is more feasible for providing reliable paths between the source and destination with the minimum control message packets over the network. It has delivered more number of packets to the destination over the network. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Context-Aware Migratory Services in Ad Hoc Networks

Ad hoc networks can be used not only as data carriers for mobile devices but also as providers of a new class of services specific to ubiquitous computing environments. Building services in ad hoc networks, however, is challenging due to the rapidly changing operating contexts, which often lead to situations where a node hosting a certain service becomes unsuitable for hosting the service execution any longer. We propose a novel model of service provisioning in ad hoc networks based on the concept of context- aware migratory services. Unlike a regular service that executes always on the same node, a migratory service can migrate to different nodes in the network in order to accomplish its task. The migration is triggered by changes of the operating context, and it occurs transparently to the client application. We designed and implemented a framework for developing migratory services. We built TJam, a proof-of-concept migratory service that predicts traffic jams in a given region of a highway by using only car-to-car short-range wireless communication. The experimental results obtained over an ad hoc network of personal digital assistants (PDAs) show the effectiveness of our approach in the presence of frequent disconnections. We also present simulation results that demonstrate the benefits of migratory services in large-scale networks compared to a statically centralized approach.     

MANET中路由算法对通信流自相似特性的影响

着重分析无线多跳移动网络中,不同路由算法对多媒体通信流自相似特性的影响.通过NS2仿真产生基于不同路由算法的通信流数据,运用V-T法和R/S图法分别分析其突发性参数.结果表明,基于表驱动的DSDV自相似参数最大,而分簇路由算法CBRP自相似参数最小,更有利于实时流媒体的传输.研究对提高无线网络路由协议的性能和多媒体服务的质量具有重要意义.     

Wireless network resource management for Web-based multimedia document services

Advances in wireless technology and availability of portable devices with networking capabilities have enabled ubiquitous Web accessibility. This has created the need to provide advance Internet services to mobile users without causing service failures due to connection migration or handoffs. However, scarcity of wireless resources restricts the provision of multimedia services in wireless networks. We address the issue of managing wireless resources to support Web-based multimedia document services including MPEG-4-based applications, in wireless networks with a high degree of user mobility. In particular, we formulate the resource management problem in wireless networks as an optimization problem with an objective function comprising different quality of presentation parameters.     

Supporting service differentiation for real-time and best-effort traffic in stateless wireless ad hoc networks (SWAN)

We propose SWAN, a stateless network model which uses distributed control algorithms to deliver service differentiation in mobile wireless ad hoc networks in a simple, scalable and robust manner. The proposed architecture is designed to handle both real-time UDP traffic, and best effort UDP and TCP traffic without the need for the introduction and management of per-flow state information in the network. SWAN supports per-hop and end-to-end control algorithms that primarily rely on the efficient operation of TC/IP protocols. In particular, SWAN uses local rate control for best-effort traffic, and sender-based admission control for real-time UDP traffic. Explicit congestion notification (ECN) is used to dynamically regulate admitted real-time sessions in the face of network dynamics brought on by mobility or traffic overload conditions. SWAN does not require the support of a QoS-capable MAC to deliver service differentiation. Rather, real-time services are built using existing best effort wireless MAC technology. Simulation, analysis, and results from an experimental wireless testbed show that real-time applications experience low and stable delays under various multihop, traffic, and mobility conditions.     

DiffServ resource allocation for fast handoff in wireless mobileInternet

The next-generation wireless networks are evolving toward a versatile IP-based network that can provide various real-time multimedia services to mobile users. Two major challenges in establishing such a wireless mobile Internet are support of fast handoff and provision of quality of service (QoS) over IP-based wireless access networks. In this article, a DiffServ resource allocation architecture is proposed for the evolving wireless mobile Internet. The registration-domain-based scheme supports fast handoff by significantly reducing mobility management signaling. The registration domain is integrated with the DiffServ mechanism and provisions QoS guarantee for each service class by domain-based admission control. Furthermore, an adaptive assured service is presented for the stream class of traffic, where resource allocation is adjusted according to the network condition in order to minimize handoff call dropping and new call blocking probabilities     

ECBRP: An Efficient Cluster-Based Routing Protocol for Real-Time Multimedia Streaming in MANETs

The dynamic characteristics of wireless networks and stringent QoS requirements of multimedia applications identify significant challenges for providing QoS guarantees for real-time multimedia streaming in such wireless environment. QoS routing protocols can decisively contribute to the QoS provision of network systems. This paper proposes an efficient cluster-based routing protocol (ECBRP) for real-time multimedia streaming in mobile ad hoc networks. First, to improve the stability of clusterheads, we introduce a new algorithm of cluster formation, in consideration of the node mobility and connectivity. Second, a link-broken detection mechanism is designed, which is able to distinguish whether packet loss is due to mobility or congestion, and to make proper reaction. This mechanism contributes to reduce route overhead, and to increase the decodable ratio of video frame at the application layer as well. Third, the routing protocol is enhanced via an adaptive packet salvage strategy, in order to alleviate the congestion in consideration of the characteristics of multimedia traffic. Our simulation experiment results demonstrate that the ECBRP leads to more stable cluster formation than the CBRP, and 80% decreases in the frequency of clusterhead changes against CBRP. As a result, the quality of real-time multimedia streaming is improved significantly, in terms of decodable frame ratio, delay and delay jitter, etc.     

面向高动态移动自组织网络的生物启发分簇算法

分簇可以有效地提高大规模移动自组织网络的性能.但高动态的移动自组织网络具有节点移动性强、网络拓扑变化快的特点,应用传统的分簇算法会造成网络性能迅速下降,频繁的簇拓扑更新造成了簇结构的不稳定和控制开销的增加.为了解决传统分簇算法无法适应高动态的大规模移动自组织网络的问题,提出了一种基于生物启发的移动感知分簇算法,该算法对多头绒泡菌的觅食模型进行了改进,使其适用于移动自组织网络领域.由于该算法与节点的移动特性进行了结合,所以该算法可以有效地在高动态移动自组织网络中进行簇的建立与维护.实验结果表明,相较于其他传统分簇算法,本文算法提高了平均链路连接保持时间和平均簇首保持时间,使得簇结构更加稳定,提高了对高动态、大规模移动自组织网络的适应能力.     

QoS guarantee and provisioning for realtime digital video over mobile ad hoc cdma networks with cross-layer design

In this article we investigate the trade-offs and the constraints for multimedia over mobile ad hoc CDMA networks, and propose a cross-layer distributed power control and scheduling protocol to resolve those trade-offs and constraints in order to provide high-quality video over wireless ad hoc CDMA networks. In particular, a distributed power control and scheduling protocol is proposed to control the incurred delay of video streaming over multihop wireless ad hoc networks, as well as the multiple access interference (MAI). We also investigate the impacts of Doppler spread and noisy channel estimates upon the end-to-end video quality, and provide a relatively robust system which employs a combination of power control and coding/interleaving to combat the effects of Doppler spread by exploiting the increased time diversity when the Doppler spread becomes large. Thus, more robust end-to-end video quality can be achieved over a wide range of channel conditions     

Quality‐based charging solutions for wireless multimedia services

The evolution of mobile telecommunication networks and access bandwidth has enabled operators to deliver IPTV services for mobile customers; however, the existing mobile charging solutions are not effectively addressing the billing requirements of multimedia streams. This paper develops a quality‐based charging solution for 3GPP wireless networks with the aim of providing a fair pricing solution for multimedia services. An appropriate business model is selected and a streaming proxy‐based charging architecture is developed based on the quality of the multimedia service. The proposed algorithms are theoretically evaluated by the derivation of the formulas of the distribution and the expected value of the price discount. A testbed is built and the findings are evaluated and compared with traditional charging functions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Context-Aware Network Equipment for Dynamic Adaptation of Multimedia Services in Wireless Networks

B3G (Beyond 3rd Generation) networks is the next step in the wireless world. It will enable the delivery of services to end-users, on different underlying wireless access networks and customised to users’ context. Furthermore, seamless mobility between networks and switch of devices will be handled in a transparent way. In this paper, a Context-Aware Network Equipment (CANE) is introduced, that is able to dynamically adapt multimedia services according to the users’ context. The term context includes the users’ device, the users’ preferences, the network conditions as well as the service provider adaptation policies. As a proof of concept, an implementation of a CANE is given for a 802.11 network use-case. An evaluation of the prototype as well as simulations of the proposed solution, both for an audio streaming service and a video streaming service, are presented. The results show that adapting multimedia services in case of network overload can enable to maintain an acceptable quality of service delivered to end-users and even to allow more users to enjoy the services, which will not be possible without the CANE.     

Efficient Handover with Load Balancing: A Quality Perspective Approach

The heterogeneous wireless networking environment determined by the latest developments in wireless access technologies promises a high level of communication resources for mobile computational devices. Although the communication resources provided, especially referring to bandwidth, enable multimedia streaming to mobile users, maintaining a high user perceived quality is still a challenging task. The main factors which affect quality in multimedia streaming over wireless networks are mainly the error-prone nature of the wireless channels and the user mobility. These factors determine a high level of dynamics of wireless communication resources, namely variations in throughput and packet loss as well as network availability and delays in delivering the data packets. Under these conditions maintaining a high level of quality, as perceived by the user, requires a quality oriented mobility management scheme. Consequently a proposed smooth adaptive soft-handover algorithm, a novel quality oriented handover management scheme which unlike other similar solutions, smoothly transfer the data traffic from one network to another using multiple simultaneous connections.     

Network mobility and protocol interoperability in ad hoc networks

The integration of various network-level functions, including routing, management, and security, is critical to the efficient operation of a mobile ad hoc network. In this article we focus on network mobility (rather than node mobility), implying the movement of entire subnetworks with respect to one another, while individual users initially associated with one such subnetwork may also move to other domains. One example is a battlefield network that includes ships, aircraft, and ground troops. In this "network of networks", subnets (e.g. shipboard networks) may be interconnected via a terrestrial mobile wireless network (e.g., between moving ships). We discuss the design and implementation of a new ad hoc routing protocol, a suite of solutions for policy-based network management, and approaches for key management and deployment of IPsec in a MANET. These solutions, in turn, are integrated with real-time middleware, a secure radio link, and a topology monitoring tool. We briefly describe each component of the solution, and focus on the challenges and approaches to integrating these components into a cohesive system to support network mobility. We evaluate the effectiveness of the system through experiments conducted in a wireless ad hoc testbed.