About the Self-stabilization of a Virtual Topology for Self-organization in Ad Hoc Networks

Abstract

Ad hoc networks are spontaneous wireless networks without any wired infrastructure, composed of mobile terminals. We assume that nodes must collaborate to set up an efficient network, such a collaboration requiring a self-organization in the network. We proposed a virtual structure to organize the network: the backbone is a connected structure helping to optimize the control traffic flooding. Clusters form services area, hierarchizing the network, electing one leader per cluster. Since the ad hoc topology is volatile, the self-stabilization of the algorithms is vital. The algorithms for both the construction and the maintenance are analytically studied to prove the self-stabilization of the proposed self-organization. Thus, the virtual structure is efficient and very scalable, a local topology change impacting only locally the virtual structure. Finally, simulations investigate the behavior and the performances of the virtual structure.