Programmable middleware for the dynamic deployment of services and protocols in ad hoc networks

Mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) are characterized by their heterogeneity and the diverse capabilities of the nodes forming the network. Almost any device equipped with a wireless network interface can join an ad hoc network. In such an environment it is difficult to deploy common services without a common understanding among the participating nodes and their capabilities, in terms of processing power, battery life, expected residence time and also in terms of already installed and operational software. This paper presents a middleware-based programmable infrastructure that allows the nodes of a mobile ad hoc network to download and activate required protocol and service software dynamically. This enables the alignment of the nodes' capabilities so that common services and protocols are used among heterogeneous ad hoc network nodes. We first present the middleware functionality and architecture and then evaluate it through both testbed experimentation and simulation. Our evaluation shows that the proposed approach and architecture perform relatively well, with overall convergence time growing linearly with the number of nodes and without any adverse effects because of increasing node density.