Exploiting Heterogeneity in Ad Hoc networks with Antenna Arrays<br /> DOI: 10.14209/jcis.2004.13

Abstract

Node homogeneity in terms of physical resources and characteristics, such as antenna capabilities, mobility, and energy constraints, is a widely accepted assumption in ad hoc networking that may not hold in numerous practical cases. And, unlike logical hierarchy solutions for homogeneous scenarios, exploration of physical-level diversity has received little attention. In this work, we propose a solution that allows a few more resourceful nodes (highly connected, non-energyconstrained, and with low mobility) to improve the overall network performance in terms of end-to-end delay, connectivity and, especially, energy consumption. This is achieved by means of an in-band special coverage network formed by nodes equipped with antenna arrays using beamforming and pattern synthesis algorithms. A simulation study illustrates the proposed concept and highlights some of its advantages.