The MOBI-DIK Approach to Searching in Mobile Ad Hoc Network Databases1

In this chapter, we introduce the mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) database by discussing its definition, historical background and scientific fundamentals. Existing related projects are presented and classified into two main categories, pedestrian and vehicular projects based on their target users. Two main paradigms (i.e., report pulling and report pushing) for answering queries in MANET databases are discussed in details. Then we present the MOBIDIK approach to searching in MANET databases and compare it with alternatives. Finally, the key applications and the future research directions are addressed. INTRODUCTION: MANET DATABASES A Mobile Ad-Hoc Network (MANET) database is a database that is stored in the peers of a MANET. The network is composed by a finite set of mobile peers that communicate with each other via short range wireless protocols, such as IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, Zigbee, or Ultra Wide Band (UWB). These protocols provide broadband (typically tens of Mbps) but short-range (typically 10-100 meters) wireless communication. On each mobile peer there is a local database that stores and manages a collection of data items, or reports. A report is a set of values sensed or entered by the user at a particular time, or otherwise obtained by a mobile peer. Often a report de1 Research supported by NSF Grants DGE-0549489, and IIS0513736, 0847680, and 0326284.