Node Of A Wireless Self-organizing Network Communications Protocol Stack Design And Realization

Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET) is a kind of self-organizing network composed of wireless nodes. This thesis presents a node structure with split protocol stack, where data link layer and physical layer reside in communication device while upper layers in control device. The two devices are connected into one node using data interface. The split protocol stack structure is flexible but brings in new design issues, which in this thesis are solved by building three models in general prospective.First of all, an interface protocol is required to integrate the split stack. As high efficiency is the first concern of interface protocol model, flow control and error control mechanism suitable for split protocol stack are designed with common characteristics of communication devices.Secondly, a control model is designed, which turns communication device into a virtual network interface of the control device. The control information is exchanged through real network interfaces (Ethernet, etc.) which bridge the virtual network interfaces.The third model, vertical extension pattern of Linux protocol stack, is introduced to insert new protocol layer to add communication functions, enhancing the extensibility of Linux protocol stack. Based on virtual network interface, it solved the problem of performance reduction caused by frequently context switching.The above models are applicable and provide guidance to resembling applications. They are applied ultimately in the development of protocol stack of wireless node in the project and proved to be valid through tests.