DIMACS Seminar Series on Communication and Information Theory
DIMACS Special Focus on Computational Information Theory and Coding.

Princeton-Rutgers Seminar Series in
Communications and Information Theory
Chris Rose and Sergio Verdú, Co-Chairs




Ad hoc wireless networks: Analysis, protocols, architecture, and towards convergence

P. R. Kumar, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign:

Tuesday October 1, 2002 4:30 pm, Rutgers University, CoRE Building 431:

Ad Hoc wireless networks are networks formed by nodes with radios. Since the wireless medium is a shared medium, it is important to determine how much traffic they can carry. Under a technological model of such networks, we show that the total traffic carrying capacity that scales as the square root of the number of nodes in the network. We also present a sharp information theoretic characterization of the traffic they can carry, which allows for more sophisticated usage than current technology. The operation of ad hoc networks requires several asynchronous distributed protocols which can adapt to the location and number of nodes in the network, and to the traffic demands. We present three such protocols for problems arising especially in wireless networks -- power control (COMPOW), media access (SEEDEX), and routing (STARA). Finally, we comment on some architectural issues important to the next phase of the information technology revolution, the convergence of communication, control, sensing and actuation.

Seminar Sponsored by DIMACS Special Focus on Computational Information Theory and Coding.