Ad Hoc Networks

An ad-hoc network is a local area network (LAN) that is built

spontaneously as devices connect. Instead of relying on a base station
to coordinate the flow of messages to each node in the network, the
individual network nodes forward packets to and from each other. In
Latin, ad hoc literally means "for this," meaning "for this special
purpose" and also, by extension, improvised or impromptu.

In the Windows operating system, ad-hoc is a communication mode

(setting) that allows computers to directly communicate with each
other without a router.

The Ad Hoc Networks is an international and archival journal

providing a publication vehicle for complete coverage of all topics of
interest to those involved in ad hoc and sensor networking areas. The
Ad Hoc Networks considers original, high quality and unpublished
contributions addressing all aspects of ad hoc and sensor networks.
Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Mobile and Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

• Sensor Networks
• Wireless Local and Personal Area Networks
• Home Networks
• Ad Hoc Networks of Autonomous Intelligent Systems
• Novel Architectures for Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks
• Self-organizing Network Architectures and Protocols
• Transport Layer Protocols
• Routing protocols (unicast, multicast, geocast, etc.)
• Media Access Control Techniques
• Error Control Schemes
• Power-Aware, Low-Power and Energy-Efficient Designs
• Synchronization and Scheduling Issues
• Mobility Management
 • Mobility-Tolerant Communication Protocols
• Location Tracking and Location-based Services
• Resource and Information Management
• Security and Fault-Tolerance Issues
• Hardware and Software Platforms, Systems, and Testbeds
• Experimental and Prototype Results
• Quality-of-Service Issues
• Cross-Layer Interactions
• Scalability Issues
• Performance Analysis and Simulation of Protocols

Peer-to-peer
Peer-to-peer is a communications model in which each party has
the same capabilities and either party can initiate a communication
session. Other models with which it might be contrasted include the
client/server model and the master/slave model. In some cases, peer-
to-peer communications is implemented by giving each
communication node both server and client capabilities. In recent
usage, peer-to-peer has come to describe applications in which users
can use the Internet to exchange files with each other directly or
through a mediating server.

IBM's Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking (APPN) is an example of a

product that supports the peer-to-peer communication model.

On the Internet, peer-to-peer (referred to as P2P) is a type of transient

Internet network that allows a group of computer users with the same
networking program to connect with each other and directly access
files from one another's hard drives. Napster and Gnutella are
examples of this kind of peer-to-peer software. Major producers of
content, including record companies, have shown their concern about
what they consider illegal sharing of copyrighted content by suing
some P2P users.
Meanwhile, corporations are looking at the advantages of using P2P as
a way for employees to share files without the expense involved in
maintaining a centralized server and as a way for businesses to
exchange information with each other directly.

How Does Internet P2P Work?

The user must first download and execute a peer-to-peer networking

program. (Gnutellanet is currently one of the most popular of these
decentralized P2P programs because it allows users to exchange all
types of files.) After launching the program, the user enters the IP
address of another computer belonging to the network. (Typically, the
Web page where the user got the download will list several IP
addresses as places to begin). Once the computer finds another
network member on-line, it will connect to that user's connection (who
has gotten their IP address from another user's connection and so on).

Users can choose how many member connections to seek at one time
and determine which files they wish to share or password protect.

Node
In a network, a node is a connection point, either a redistribution
point or an end point for data transmissions. In general, a node has
programmed or engineered capability to recognize and process or
forward transmissions to other nodes.