Distributed flow controller for mobile ad-hoc networks

Abstract

A mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) is a self-configuring, self-organized, and infrastructureless network of mobile stations, connected by radio links. The challenge to ensure network's operation means to continuously maintain updated information about the network's topology, the characteristics of the radio links and security at all levels. Due to the decentralized nature of the network, this is quite difficult. Distributed coordination and control of MANET has always been a challenge for network designers. This paper presents a proposal for a distributed flow controller, a new approach regarding the network architecture for MANET. From the perspective of the current approaches, the entire network has to be treated as a whole, from the point of view of the management, control and data plane. Our proposed approach, based on the paradigm of SDN (Software Design Network), implies a clear separation between the data plane and the control plane. This separation leads to greater flexibility on the control network, to the possibility of dynamic reconfiguration, and to the improvement of its security.