Solving billing issues in ad hoc networks

ABSTRACT

Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs), which were targeted initially for military applications, are slowly finding their way into commercial applications. Ad hoc networking is based on the assumption that every node is willing to forward packets and act as a router. In a military environment, the nodes are assumed "co-operative" and willing to forward packets not intended for them. In a commercial network however, a node may not be totally willing to forward a packet originating from another node, since it utilizes its own battery power. Thus, there is an issue of billing for services provided by the nodes in the network.The problem of billing in ad hoc networks has not been researched extensively, but it must be addressed effectively to make MANETs commercially viable. This paper briefly explains the existing approaches targeted at solving billing and charging issues in MANETs. It gives a lead to solve billing issues using efficient routing mechanisms, and provides an insight into suitable routing approaches and frameworks that could possibly be adopted to support billing. It also provides an example Load-based hybrid routing approach, which solves the problem of billing using an inherent property that stimulates cooperation among nodes.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.2 COMPUTER-COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
      C.2.1 Network Architecture and Design

Additional Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.2 COMPUTER-COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
      C.2.2 Network Protocols
          Subjects: Routing protocols
      C.2.3 Network Operations

General Terms:
Algorithms, Design

Keywords:
Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs), billing, charging, cooperation, load-based routing, routing