Efficient support of group communications is critical for most ad hoc network applications.
However, manet group communications issues differ from those in wired environments
because the wireless communications medium has variable and unpredictable
characteristics, and the signal strength and propagation fluctuate with respect to time and
environment. We provide an overview of group communications issues such as protocol
design, state maintenance, and performance. We also discuss representative protocols and …

Amobile ad hoc network (manet) comprises a set of wireless devices that can move around
freely and cooperate in relaying packets on behalf of one another. A manet does not require
a fixed infrastructure or centralized administration. Because mobile nodes have limited
transmission range, distant nodes communicate through multihop paths. Their ease of
deployment makes manets an attractive choice for a variety of applications. Examples
include battleground communications, disaster recovery efforts, communication among a …