Optimizing wireless ad hoc communication resources with a knowledge plane

In mobile wireless ad hoc networks (MANETs), layering is frequently broken in order to deal with changes on the wireless medium. Layering is also violated in order to implement autonomic behavior, which depends on correlating data scattered on various layers to identify relevant events. This paper proposes a new networking plane, called MANET knowledge plane (MANKP), that stores information concerning all layers of the protocol stack. This plane is used to improve network performance, as protocols may employ a broader range of inputs on their algorithms. Moreover, being an information repository, MANKP allows the creation of self-optimizing and self-configuring mechanisms for all the protocol stack. To showcase our solution, we propose new transmission power control aware protocols, where the physical, MAC and routing layers cooperate using MANKP. A preliminary evaluation using asymptotic complexity shows that MANKP significantly reduces the amount of messages sent, decreasing energy consumption.