Analytical framework for the performance assessment of the strategies for integrating Mobile Ad Hoc Networks and the Internet

Many strategies have been proposed for integrating mobile ad hoc networks and the Internet. A need has been felt for an analytical framework that would facilitate a formal definition and comparison of different integration strategies without actually implementing them in a simulated environment. In this paper, we present an analytical framework based on the concept of a relay path (RP). This model can be used to describe, compare the different strategies for integrating mobile ad hoc networks and the Internet, propose new strategies and improve the existing strategies at different module levels. The proposed analytical model has been simulated on a few integration strategies. Presently, only the mobile IP overhead is being estimated with this model.