7-2 Industrial Communication Systems
also.serve.as.an.emergency.backup.in.case.of.massive.xed.infrastructure.failure.due.to.war,.natural,.or.
industrial.disaster..It.can.extend.the.service.area.of.the.access.networks.and.provide.wireless.connectivity.
into.areas.with.limited.or.no.coverage..Although.ad.hoc.architecture.oers.several.benets.such.as.self-
reconguration
.and.adaptability.to.highly.variable.mobile.characteristics,.it.poses.several.new.challenges.
primarily.resulting.from.the.unpredictability.of.the.network.topology.due.to.mobility.and.count.of.nodes..
e.key.dierences.of.ad.hoc.networks.with.conventional.cellular.systems.are.summarized.in.Table.7.1.
7.1.2 applications
e.evolution.toward.a.seamless.connectivity.through.a.heterogeneous.network.is.made.possible.due.to.prog-
ress
.in.wireless.communication.standards,.radio.access.technologies,.and.network.architecture..Although.
still.in.its.infancy,.developments.in.these.areas.are.already.resulting.in.several.novel.business.models.
Wireless
.home.networks.are.now.oering.to.move.broadband.data.around.the.house.without.wires.
through.P2P.routing.and.without.requiring.each.device.to.be.in.close.proximity.of.a.centralized.server..
Military.applications.are.another.key.area,.where.P2P.technology.is.implemented.as.“mesh.networks.”.
ese.networks.enable.instant.and.reliable.communication.among.troops.across.the.battleeld.without.
requiring.predeployed.large.structures,.antennas,.or.traditional.backhaul.connections..Similarly,.this.con-
cept
.is.applicable.to.establish.communication.among.the.public.safety.workers.(of.police,.re-ghting,.and.
rescue.department),.allowing.them.to.establish/extend.networks.by.simply.bringing.mesh-enabled.devices.
to.the.site.of.an.incident..Ad.hoc.networks.can.be.deployed.in.mining.companies.and.other.enterprises,.
which.operate.in.extremely.dicult.environment,.in.order.to.improve.communication.and.safety.of.work-
ers.
.Also,.ad.hoc.technology.can.be.used.to.extend.wireless.connectivity.to.hard-to-reach.areas.such.as.old.
buildings.that.are.dicult.to.wire,.or.to.buildings.that.are.too.distant.to.reach.with.Wi-Fi..Another.inter-
esting
.application.of.the.ad.hoc.networks.is.in.creating.an.intelligent.transportation.system.that.improves.
safety.and.reduces.congestion.on.roads..As.shown.in.Figure.7.2,.each.vehicle.incorporates.smart.devices.
that.monitor.and.communicate.directly.with.each.other.in.order.to.optimize.timing,.warning.of.danger,.
and.conveys.this.information.to.the.trac.control.server.for.strategic.planning..Ad.hoc.technology.enables.
(a) (b)
FIGURE 7.1 Ad.hoc.networks:.(a).xed.infrastructure.network.and.(b).peer-to-peer.network.
TABLE 7.1 Dierences.between.Ad.Hoc.Networks.and.Conventional.
Cellular.Systems
Conventional.Systems Ad.Hoc.Networks
Requires
.infrastructure No.infrastructure.required
Requires
.careful.planning.before.
setting.up.base.stations
Adapts.to.changing.network.conditions
Static
.backbone.network.topology Dynamic.network.topologies
Predictable
.network.conditions Highly.unpredictable.network.conditions
Relatively
.more.secure More.susceptible.to.malicious.attacks
© 2011 by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC