GPS assisted adhoc routing using cellphones for poorly connected areas

ABSTRACT

We describe the design and implementation of an adhoc routing protocol that allows users to transmit their data in poorly-connected areas. This protocol is based on the following observation: while the wireless communication infrastructure (WiFi or cellular) is poor in developing countries, the number of WiFi-enabled mobile devices is rapidly increasing even in rural areas of these countries. Furthermore, most of these devices are GPS-enabled or have mechanisms to determine their current location (latitude and longitude). The protocol builds an adhoc wireless network using these mobile devices, and uses location information of these devices to route data packets to a close-by node that is connected to the Internet. This node can be an IP router, a cellphone that has Internet connection, or an Internet kiosk.

Index Terms

• Applied computing

  • Computers in other domains

    • Personal computers and PC applications

• Computer systems organization

  • Architectures

    • Distributed architectures

• Networks

  • Network protocols

    • Network layer protocols

      • Routing protocols

  • Network types

    • Mobile networks

    • Wireless access networks

• Software and its engineering

  • Software organization and properties

    • Software system structures

      • Distributed systems organizing principles