On Leveraging Partial Paths in Partially-Connected Networks

Abstract—Mobile wireless network research focuses on scenarios at the extremes of the network connectivity continuum where the probability of all nodes being connected is either close to unity, assuming connected paths between all nodes (mobile ad hoc networks), or it is close to zero, assuming no multi-hop paths exist at all (delay-tolerant networks). In this paper, we argue that a sizable fraction of networks lies between these extremes and is characterized by the existence of partial paths, i.e., multi-hop path segments that allow forwarding data closer to the destination even when no end-to-end path is available. A fundamental issue in such networks is dealing with disruptions of end-to-end paths. Under a stochastic model, we compare the performance of the established end-to-end retransmission (ignoring partial paths), against a forwarding mechanism that leverages partial paths to forward data closer to the destination even during disruption periods. Perhaps surprisingly, the alt...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2009
• Where: INFOCOM
• Authors: Simon Heimlicher, Merkourios Karaliopoulos, Hanoch Levy, Thrasyvoulos Spyropoulos
• Keywords: Communications, End-to-end Paths, INFOCOM 2009, Multi-hop Path, Partial Paths