Multimedia content distribution in hybrid wireless networks using weighted clustering

Abstract

Fixed infrastructured networks naturally support centralized approaches for group management and information provisioning. Contrary to infrastructured networks, in multi-hop ad-hoc networks each node acts as a router as well as sender and receiver. Some applications, however, requires hierarchical arrangements that-for practical reasons-has to be done locally and selforganized. An additional challenge is to deal with mobility that causes permanent network partitioning and re-organizations. Technically, these problems can be tackled by providing additional uplinks to a backbone network, which can be used to access resources in the Internet as well as to inter-link multiple ad-hoc network partitions, creating a hybrid wireless network. In this paper, we present a prototypically implemented hybrid wireless network system optimized for multimedia content distribution. To efficiently manage the ad-hoc communicating devices a weighted clustering algorithm is introduced. The proposed localized algorithm deals with mobility, but does not require geographical information or distances.

NLWCA Node and Link Weighted Clustering Algorithm for Backbone-Assisted Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

“…In previous work we introduced two backboneassisted mobile ad hoc network applications: HyMN [1] and HyCast [2]. Both applications deal with the providing of multimedia content to mobile devices and use clusters to organize the ad hoc networks.…”

HyMN-injection-based multimedia content distribution in hybrid wireless networks

“…Technical details about the heuristic weight function of the WACA algorithm can be found in [19]. Simulation results are presented, which show that the average number of clusterheads within an ad hoc network can be decreased using WACA compared to the WCA algorithm.…”

Coevolutionary genetic algorithms for Ad hoc injection networks design optimization

“…It is then very likely that both worlds will merge into what is referred to as hybrid networks. A major benefit of using some infrastructure is that network partitioning becomes then avoidable [12], [13] [14]. Unfortunately accessing the network infrastructure generally has a significant cost.…”