Inquiring the Potential of Evoking Small-World Properties for Self-Organizing Communication Networks

TL;DR

This paper explores whether small-world network properties can enhance self-organizing multi-hop ad hoc communication networks by improving link management and connectivity across network partitions.

Contribution

It investigates the potential of small-world characteristics to facilitate efficient inter-linking in partitioned mobile ad hoc networks.

Findings

Small-world properties correlate with improved network connectivity.

Enhanced link management reduces network partitioning issues.

Small-world models can optimize multi-hop ad hoc network performance.

Abstract

Mobile multi-hop ad hoc networks allow establishing local groups of communicating devices in a self-organizing way. However, in a global setting such networks fail to work properly due to network partitioning. Providing that devices are capable of communicating both locally-e.g. using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth-and additionally also with arbitrary remote devices-e.g. using GSM/UMTS links-the objective is to find efficient ways of inter-linking multiple network partitions. Tackling this problem of topology control, we focus on the class of small-world networks that obey two distinguishing characteristics: they have a strong local clustering while still retaining a small average distance between two nodes. This paper reports on results gained investigating the question if small-world properties are indicative for an efficient link management in multiple multi-hop ad hoc network partitions.