This chapter presents an overview of design challenges involved in mobile mesh networks that support multimedia applications. First, various types wireless mesh networks are enumerated and the historical developments in the area of mobile mesh networks are briefly reviewed. The need for and value of autonomous mobile mesh networks for broadband applications is described later. This is followed by an overview of technical challenges that need to be addressed in designing autonomous mobile mesh networks and for providing useful multimedia peer-to-peer services over such networks. Emphasis is placed on describing generic system level challenges rather than on specific solutions for component subsystems, some of which are only beginning to evolve.

Introduction

Ad hoc wireless networks are interconnected sets of mobile nodes that are self-organizing, self-healing, survivable, and instantaneously available, without any need for prior infrastructure. Since Internet Protocol (IP) suite is now recognized as the universal interface or “glue” for interconnecting dissimilar networks, an IP-based ad hoc network has the potential to solve the interoperability problems faced by various conventional stovepipe networks that are designed for specific usage cases.

A multi-hop mesh network can be defined as a communications network that has two or more paths to any node, providing multiple ways to route data and control information between nodes by “hopping” from node to node until a connection can be established. Mobile mesh networks enable continuous efficient updates of connections to reconfigure around blocked or changed paths.