Mobility Prediction in Wireless Networks

Wireless networks allow a more flexible communication model than traditional networks since the user is not limited to a fixed physical location. Unlike cellular wireless networks, ad hoc wireless networks do not have any fixed communication infrastructure. In ad hoc networks, routes are mostly multihop and network hosts communicate via packet radios. Each host moves in an arbitrary manner and thus routes are subject to frequent disconnections. In typical mobile networks, nodes exhibit some degree of regularity in the mobility pattern. By exploiting a mobile user’s non-random traveling pattern, we can predict the future state of network topology and thus provide a transparent network access during the period of topology changes. In this paper we present various enhancements to unicast and multicast routing protocols using mobility prediction. The proposed scheme utilizes GPS location information. By simulation, we evaluate the effectiveness of mobility prediction.