| MANET (Mobile Ad-hoc Networks) have emerged as a new promising networking technology that allows groups of nodes to organize themselves in order to form a spontaneous short term network without the use of any central entities for configuration (e.g. DHCP server). There are two major differences between MANET and other regular fixed networks. First, MANET nodes are expected to fully rely on themselves on all network configuration, addressing, and routing steps. Second, nodes in MANET are fully dynamic; they can join, leave, and move around the network at any point of time forming a fully dynamic networking topology.; Because of those two major differences, new techniques to configure the required parameters (mainly the IP address), and also techniques to reliably route the traffic within and between MANET groups are needed. Those new techniques are required to operate dynamically in order to reconfigure the nodes with new parameters while they move. Since MANET nodes have to rely on themselves in all aspects of the configuration process, this type of configuration is therefore called auto-configuration or self-configuration.; MANET architectures vary based on the specific applications they support. Those applications as well as nodes mobility (fast/slow, individual/groups), and nodes types/capabilities (laptops, PADs, sensors) are the major elements that determine the design/architecture of the addressing and routing schemes to be used.; Therefore, the design of any addressing/routing protocol for MANET should be mainly based on specific application or at most a limited group of applications that are similar in nature and require nodes with the same capabilities and common network characteristics. In this research, the widely deployed IPv4 protocol suite will be considered. A novel IP addressing and auto-configuration technique called GIPA (Geographic IP Addressing) will be developed. The technique can be used in conjunction with dynamic IP based routing protocols to provide a hierarchical IP routing service in a dynamic ad hoc environment. The technique will also support MANET groups inter-working, Inter working between MANET and Intranet (wired enterprise and private IP networks), and also supports MANET access to the public Internet. |
