Events — Colloquia & Seminars
Ad Hoc Networking with Directional Antennas
Speaker: Ram Ramanathan, BBN Technologies
Date: Wednesday, April 7, 2004
Talk: 12:00 PM, 149 Cullinane
Abstract
Research in ad hoc networking has implicitly assumed the use of omni-directional antennas at the physical layer. This results in a severe limitation on the network capacity. By focusing energy only in the intended direction, directional antennas have the potential to significantly increase both the spatial reuse and the communication range, which can result in a tremendous improvement in network capacity, reduced latency and better connectivity. Exploiting this potential, however, requires a number of innovations at the medium access and network layers of typical ad hoc networks.
In this talk, we first discuss a simulation-based analysis of the magnitude of the performance improvement that directional antennas can provide, and throw some light on the factors such improvement depends upon. We then describe the problems faced in the development of ad hoc networks with directional antennas and describe some solutions developed at BBN. We also briefly describe a real-life prototype 20 node ad hoc network with directional antennas, and our experiences with it.
The talk is intended for a general audience. No prior knowledge of directional antennas is necessary, and for the most part only a basic knowledge of computer networks is assumed. Time permitting, the talk will be succeeded by a brief description of the current research directions in our department at BBN.
Brief Biography
Ram Ramanathan is a Division Scientist at BBN Technologies. He received his BTech from the IIT, Madras, in 1985 and his M.S and Ph.D from the University of Delaware, in 1989 and 1992 respectively. Dr. Ramanathan's research interests at present are focused on mobile ad hoc wireless networking, including opportunistic spectrum access, topology control, beamforming antennas, medium access control. Ram has served on the steering committees and program committees of several conferences including MobiCom and MobiHoc. He serves on the editorial board of Ad Hoc. Networks journal. He has won the best student paper award at Sigcomm 1992, the best paper award at Infocom 1996 and best classified paper at Milcom 2002.