The focal point of the project is QoS in an environment with scarce resources, variable capacity and dynamic topology. The project addresses various aspects of ad-hoc networking, where terminals must act as routers in addition to source and receivers. The topology is dynamic, the nodes move and may join and leave the network at will. Ad hoc networks may be independent networks, or they can be connected to the wired infrastructure through dedicated base stations or gateways. The goal is to offer a similar set of services to those found in the wired networks. Compared to a wired network, QoS in ad-hoc networks is a somewhat harder set of problems. In addition to a varying load, the properties of the radio channel itself will also vary over time. The channel capacity is a function of the environment and interference from neighbours. The nodes are likely to move, and the topology, capacity and load will therefore change over time. Furthermore, several terminals have access to the media, and privacy is of great concern. Therefore, QoS in wireless networks represents a challenge.

Project coordinator: Professor Øivind Kure