MicroRouting: A Scalable and Robust Communication Paradigm for Sparse Ad Hoc Networks

Mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) are selforganizing networks that provide rapid network connectivity in infrastructureless environments. Most routing protocols designed for MANETs assume connected networks. Such a restriction directly limits the application domains of MANETs. In this paper, we study the problem of providing time-critical data delivery in sparse ad hoc networks where network partitions can last for long periods, without imposing any restrictions on the node mobility. Supporting real-time communication with unconstrained mobility is important to many mission-critical applications such as battlefields and search and rescue in large-scale disaster areas