MAGNET: ad hoc network system based on mobile agents

This paper proposes an ad-hoc network system based on mobile agents. We regard some special mobile agent as an implementation of the network protocol. Mobile agents can move over the network while being carried by protocol agents. Implementation of the protocols by the mobile agents enables the dynamic extension of the network. We introduce agent replication for the simple development of the inter-agent communication. Agent hierarchy enables the component software design. Link monitoring agent enables the adaptations to the dynamic network change. We also describe the implementation of the ad hoc network protocol DSR using our prototype system MAGNET which is based on the framework. MAGNET is developed by Java and working both on the ad hoc network emulation environment and on the real infrared device in Win98/CE/Java OS PDA(BossaNova).