Software-Defined MANET Backbone Controller Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) face scalability issues due to excessive signaling and computation overhead, which limits their ability to support large-scale dynamic applications, especially in disaster-relief and battlefield operations, as they rely on complex distributed algorithms and centralized systems like SDN, which are not applicable to MANETs.
Innovation Solution
A software-defined MANET with a centralized backbone service that computes optimized routing paths using a weighted graph of neighborhood metrics, integrating SDN, ICN, and utility-based cross-layering to manage multicast trees and reduce signaling overhead, allowing for dynamic adaptation and efficient resource allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If distributed algorithms are used in MANETs to determine routing paths, then protocol correctness and efficiency are improved, but signaling overhead and device complexity increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a backbone controller as an intermediary between mobile nodes to compute routing paths. Instead of nodes performing complex distributed algorithms, the controller receives location and service information from nodes, computes optimal paths using a network graph, and sends routing instructions back to nodes, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining correctness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the routing function by separating control plane operations (performed by the backbone controller) from data plane operations (performed by mobile nodes). The controller handles complex path computation centrally, while nodes only execute simple forwarding actions, reducing the complexity burden on individual nodes
2Ease of operation
If centralized systems like SDN are used to compute routing paths, then routing operations are simplified, but applicability to MANETs is reduced due to flow-state based path computation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter for path computation from flow-state based (SDN approach) to location-based and service-based parameters. The controller uses current node locations and service requirements to compute paths dynamically, making the centralized system adaptable to MANET characteristics while maintaining simplified operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the centralized controller universal by enabling it to handle various MANET scenarios including mobility, service discovery, and dynamic topology changes. The controller can compute paths based on multiple parameters (location, service type, network conditions) making it versatile for different MANET applications
3Adaptability or versatility
If MANETs scale up the number of nodes, then network coverage and capability are improved, but signaling overhead increases excessively limiting scalability
Solution Approach 1:
The backbone controller acts as a mediator that centralizes routing computations for the entire network. Instead of each node participating in complex distributed algorithms, the controller handles all path computations centrally, reducing the total signaling overhead in the network while supporting large numbers of nodes
Solution Approach 2:
The controller proactively computes and establishes routing paths before data transmission occurs. By pre-computing paths based on current network state and service requirements, the system avoids excessive signaling during data transmission phases, enabling scalability
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment provides a mobile ad-hoc network (MANET). The MANET includes a plurality of mobile nodes and a centralized controller node. The controller node includes a receiving mechanism configured to receive, from a source mobile node, a request for a service, with the request including an identifier associated with the requested service; an identification mechanism configured to identify a destination mobile node that provides the service associated with the identifier; a path-computation mechanism configured to compute a path between the source mobile node and the destination mobile node using a network graph for the mobile nodes; and a path-sending mechanism configured to send the computed path to at least the destination mobile node, which facilitates establishing a route between the source mobile node and the destination mobile node.