Self-configuration in MANETs: Different perspectives

Abstract

The number of communication devices one uses is increasing day by day. Configuring these devices for optimal functioning, especially Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANETs), has not been an easy task for users. Self-configuration of the devices for optimal networking performance, being imperative, has been studied by various researchers considering the tasks at hand in various layers of the network stack. We have made a comprehensive study on self-configuration at different layers, and discussed the required interactions amongst them from different perspectives, which we think important. We break down the design complexity and identify system-level merits with the help of earlier studies. We further present our vision to provide such merits with self-configuration architecture. Our work presented here aims at understanding the potential challenges posed by the newer applications and services, and identifying research directions while providing the foundation for design of self-configurable systems. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.