Application and mobility aware integration of opportunistic networks with wireless infrastructures

The wireless world is migrating towards an era that will comprise wireless network infrastructure, as well as more temporary structures which, for instance, can be called Opportunistic Networks (ONs). ONs can comprise various terminals, potentially organized in an ad-hoc mode, and be terminated at a set of access points of the infrastructure-based network. In this context, an operator, owning a wireless network infrastructure, can exploit ONs for complementing the infrastructure, e.g., in order to resolve coverage expansions or for achieving green targets. Given the existence of opportunities in terms of available nodes and spectrum, the suitability of creating an ON can be determined by the type of involved applications and mobility levels. The decision to create or not an ON will be dynamic, should respect traffic and mobility aspects and should also envisage anticipated QoS and energy related benefits for the whole network. Framed within this statement, this paper aims at the investigation of those conditions under which the creation of an ON will be beneficiary for the overall network. This investigation is based on extensive network simulations and under certain circumstances the scheme may designate solutions that can offer adequate QoS.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► We study Opportunistic Networks (ONs) as extensions to wireless infrastructure. ► ONs can comprise various devices, potentially organized in an ad-hoc network mode. ► We investigate the application and mobility conditions under which an ON is profitable. ► We conduct extensive simulations to provide ON creation policies for operator. ► Such policies can result in adequate QoS with reduced transmission power by 40%.