Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

Abstract

Wireless ad hoc networks are a hot topic in wireless computing. The word "ad hoc" means "created once for a special situation" or more generally "unplanned".

A wireless ad hoc network is formed by a group of devices that communicate directly with each other, without the use of any hardware infrastructure or human administrators. Researchers hope that such networks will be useful for applications such as disaster relief or interactive gaming.

Devices that are too far apart to communicate directly may still be able to communicate by arranging for nearby devices to forward messages for them. Because the network does not have have an outside administrator and is constantly changing as the people or vehicles carrying the devices mover around, finding and maintaining routes in an ad hoc network is a very interesting problem.

Configuring machine names and addresses is also an issue, while security is one of the biggest problems in these networks. How do you decide who is to be allowed into the network? How do you authenticate users without access to any kind of trusted authority?

I will talk about possible solutions to some of these problems and also demo some software that allows a small group of people to easily create a secure network of laptop computers without using any kind of outside resources.