Ad-hoc network

Ad-hoc network

Ad-hoc is a Local Area Network that is built spontaneously and doesn’t rely on pre-existing infrastructure such as routers, etc. Hence, all devices in an ad-hoc network have equal status on a network and participate in routing and data-forwarding. Data packets are dynamically forwarded to and from each other. It’s useful in areas where central nodes don’t exist or can’t be relied upon. This is widely used in emergency situations and military conflicts. Ad-hoc networks can be easily and quickly deployed which increases its application domain.

Two types of ad-hoc networks are possible depending upon the devices that are connected:

Heterogeneous, where each machine has different capabilities and hence performs different actions and Homogeneous, where all machines/nodes have the same capabilities and hence the same responsibility.

Three types of ad-hoc networks exist on the basis of its application:

1.            Mobile Ad-Hoc networks: A network of mobile devices.

2.            Wireless Mesh networks: A network of radio nodes in a mesh topology.

3.            Wireless Sensor networks: A network of distributed autonomous sensors to monitor physical or environmental conditions.