On the use of wireless sensor networks to cope with partitions in Mobile Ad-Hoc networks

Mobile ad-hoc networks have emerged as an efficient solution for communicating in critical scenarios, such as emergency and rescue operations. However, the infrastructure-less and dynamic nature of these networks make them vulnerable to network partitions, which directly affects the data delivery process. To mitigate the impact of partitioning, we introduce a new architecture that employs sensors to assist in forwarding the data. Such sensors are used whenever no route is found between two mobile nodes. We discuss the advantages and drawbacks of this architecture through extensive emulations. We believe that our results and discussions pave the way for the design of a new generation of ad-hoc networks.