Quality of service support in mobile ad-hoc IP networks

Real-time IP applications such as IP telephony, IP video streaming, and transport of time-sensitive information need predictable network resources. Examples of network resources include minimum guaranteed bandwidth, and special processing of certain types of packets at points of congestion, regardless of traffic fluctuations in the network. Support for such applications in mobile ad-hoc networks requires acceptable channel conditions, QoS aware mechanisms for channel access, identification of transit nodes that can sustain the resulting traffic, as well as measures for congestion prevention and management at the nodes. This paper provides a framework for QoS support in mobile ad-hoc IP networks, and discusses methods to enable QoS aware media access control, and routing IP packets with QoS constraints.