Kenneth Young

Cognitive MANET design for mission-critical networks

For mobile ad hoc networks used in network-centric operations, there is a growing need for a systematic methodology for analyzing/predicting the performance of the network over the mission duration. With the advance in cognitive networking as a possible means of exploiting unused spectrum, there is now a growing need to study how to design a cognitive network using an automated methodology. In this article we study the concepts and challenges for automatic design/ reconfiguration of cognitive MANETs. We describe the design objectives, imposed constraints, and involved parameters in MANETs. We describe how cognitive techniques can be employed to exploit the unused spectrum in military architectures. We then discuss the challenges facing the design/reconfiguration of a cognitive network and their implications at different network layers. We also describe possible implementation options for designing MANETs that employ cognitive features at all layers.

Simultaneous mobility: analytical framework, theorems and solutions

The original Mobile IP (MIP) protocol does not perform Route Optimisation but uses Home Agents to forward traffic. Thus, it does not have problems with simultaneous mobility, that is, the special case when both end hosts are mobile and move at about the same time. However, MIP for IPv6 (MIPv6) uses binding updates that are sent directly to a correspondent node. Session Initiation Protocol based mobility management (SIPMM) and MIP with location registers (MIP-LR) also use direct binding updates between a mobile host and a correspondent node. Thus, MIPv6, MIP-LR and SIPMM are vulnerable to the simultaneous mobility problem. In this paper, we analyse the simultaneous mobility problem and solution mechanisms, and propose new ways for MIPv6, MIP-LR and SIPMM to handle simultaneous mobility. Copyright

Optical interconnections within multichip modules

As very large scale integration technology advances toward higher complexity and density, future generation computing and communications systems will operate at speeds of several hundred megahertz or even gigahertz. In many cases, the capability of the interconnections within these systems to support the required speeds and densities will be a formidable challenge. Multichip-module (MCM) technology is one approach to overcome some of the interconnection bottlenecks, but even such an advanced packaging system has limitations, especially for very high speed complex systems. Optical interconnections offer the potential for improved performance in terms of large bandwidth, noise and crosstalk immunity, lower power dissipation, and large fan-out capability. We discuss the use of optical interconnections within multichip modules. We consider three specific applications-input/output access to the MCM, global signal distribution, and chip-to-chip interconnects-and discuss both free-space and guided-wave implementations of optical interconnects.

Network science based approaches to design and analyze MANETs for military applications

Mobile ad hoc networks have become the basis of the militarys network-centric warfare (NCW) approach. However, for NCW to be successful, it is imperative that the networks be designed in a robust manner with the capability to produce consistent predictable results despite the uncertainties of the underlying environment. This underscores the need for formal systematic methodologies to design and predict performance of such networks. The challenges of mobile ad hoc networking combined with those associated with the stringent requirements posed by NCW systems, however, are daunting, and thus no systematic design techniques for NCW system design exist. To address this problem, a joint project was initiated between CERDEC and Telcordia Technologies to develop the Network Engineering Design Analytic Toolset (NEDAT) - a toolset that applies network-science-based approaches to design MANETs for use in NCW. Rooted in formal/analytic techniques, NEDAT can be used to design MANETs for use in NCW given information about available resources and performance objectives, analyze performance of a given NCW network, and understand design trades.

Cognitive tactical network models

Unlike commercial MANET applications, tactical networks are typically hierarchical and involve heterogeneous types of radio communications. Future tactical networks also require cognitive functions across the protocol stack to exploit scarce spectrum and dynamically adapt functions and configuration settings. In this work we highlight the need for novel design tools for cognitive tactical networks. We define a system design model that will provide the foundation for generic network design problem formulations via the use of cognitive techniques covering both dynamic frequency adaptations and machinelearning- related aspects of cognition. We use the system model to identify several potential cognitive design knobs and describe how the different design knobs can potentially be adjusted at different timescales of operation. These knobs are used in formulating a cognitive network design problem. Finally, we discuss how a network designer can potentially benefit from the proposed model result, a cognitive network design toolset we have recently developed.

Managing simultaneous mobility of IP hosts

Since triangular routing in mobile IP (MIP) is undesirable, MIP with route optimization (MIP-RO) and MIP with location registers (MIP-LR), all use binding updates that are sent directly to a correspondent host. session initiation protocol (SIP) based mobility management also uses direct binding updates between a mobile host and a correspondent host. However, this makes these protocols (except the basic MIP) vulnerable to the simultaneous mobility problem, i.e. the special case when both end hosts are mobile and move at about the same time. In this paper, we analyze the simultaneous mobility problem and propose new ways for MIP-LR and SIP to handle simultaneous mobility using a common approach stemming from a generalized solution.

Realization of integrated mobility management protocol for ad-hoc networks

A multi-layer mobility management architecture has been designed to take care of real-time and non-real-time traffic for intra-domain and inter-domain mobility in a survivable network. It consists of three components based on functionality. SIP based mobility management is used for real-time communication, and MIP-LR is used for non-real-time communication when nodes move between two different domains while MMP takes care of movement within a domain. A testbed has been implemented using the features of each mobility management approach in an integrated manner. In this paper we present our implementation and integration experience of these three mobility management protocols and evaluate their performance under simulated military environment while interacting with Dynamic DNS, DRCP/DCDP and coordinating among themselves based on the application type and domain being served.

NEDAT - A Network Engineering Design Analytic Toolset to Design and Analyze Large Scale MANETs

Future battlefield networks such as FCS and WIN-T will rely on mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) to satisfy their communications requirements. Thus there is a critical need for systematic techniques based on formal methodologies to design MANETs to meet mission requirements. However, given the complexity of MANETs, the variety of applications they need to support, and the associated performance measures, it is extremely challenging to perform such an engineering design of MANETs. The challenges stem both from the large number of design choices that can be made for any given mission, and, more importantly, from the lack of a systematic body of principles that a network designer can rely upon to guide these choices. To address this critical need, a joint effort has been initiated between Telcordia and CERDEC to formulate a Network Engineering Design Analytic Toolset (NEDAT) that applies formal network science-based approaches to systematically and accurately design, analyze and predict the performance of MANETs. In this paper, we present the results from the first phase of this joint effort.

Ad hoc mobility protocol suite for the MOSAIC ATD

An ad hoc mobility protocol suite (AMPS) aimed at providing rapidly deployable, secure, robust IP-based communications among tactical mobile ad hoc nodes is presented in this paper. AMPS is an integrated networking solution for the MOSAIC ATD in that it provides the following capabilities: autoconfiguration, mobility management, unicast and multicast routing, reliable transport, quality of service, security and network visualization tools. This paper describes the architecture and implementation of AMPS for the MOSAIC ATD. Both laboratory and field experiments to measure AMPS functionality and performance were conducted in 2002 and 2003. This paper reports on the results of those experiments and their impact on future AMPS design and operation.

C-NEDAT: A cognitive network engineering design analytic toolset for MANETs

Future force networks of the types envisioned for the network centric warfare (NCW) paradigm will be highly diverse, with the diversity spanning a wide range of (a) requirements (e.g., need for capacity, connectivity, survivability), (b) resources (e.g., radios with widely different capabilities and ‘smart’ (e.g., Software Defined Radios (SDRs)), and (c) environments (e.g., urban, rural). The need to facilitate robust and adaptable communications in such networks has in turn triggered research in the area of cognitive networks that have the ability to ‘learn’ and generate real-time control actions to adapt to the wide diversity of requirements, resources and environments. However, the combination of diversity and “smart” networking exacerbates the problem of generating reliable and robust network designs. We present in this paper, our work on the use of cognitive mechanisms to assist with the design and analysis of robust NCW-like networks. Based on formal network-science based approaches, our Cognitive Network Engineering Design Analytic Toolset (C-NEDAT) provides for a systematic way to design, analyze and maintain robustness of future force MANETs. We provide in this paper an overview of the key functional modules and design capabilities of C-NEDAT and present example results.