A distributed routing protocol for a packet radio network

Abstract

Packet Radio is a digital communications concept which offers the user the capability to pass voice and other data traffic in a radio network which may link high power computers with small mobile radios containing microprocessors. The technique of routing digital traffic from source to destination depends on the operational requirements of the network. Most routing concepts today centralize network control (in varying degrees) for normal operations. This thesis describes a concept for completely decentralized control of a packet radio network. The basic protocol is relatively simple and robust, but suffers from the usual build-up of overhead traffic with network size. Another related routing protocol is proposed which, under certain operational situations, reduces routing traffic and memory requirements compared to the basic algorithm. A concept for use of alternate links in the event of a broken link is also suggested.