WLAN and ad-hoc network coexistence

Wireless communication is not only one of the fastest growing technologies; it is also one of the more important technologies in the field of networking. The phenomenal growth this technology has seen in recent years has been due to the ease of implementation. Advancements in wireless technology have made it possible to deploy wireless communication networks in both infrastructured as well as ad-hoc environments. Due to the nature of these networks, the possibility of these networks coexisting with one another cannot be denied. While there have been several studies conducted to test the performance of a purely infrastructured network or a purely ad-hoc network, the paper explores the issues related to a hybrid wireless network environment with both infrastructured and ad-hoc networks in close proximity. Preliminary results indicate substantial performance deterioration for the participating nodes in such a hybrid network compared to the individual networks.