Topology dynamics and routing for predictable mobile networks

Predictable mobile networks are dynamic in terms of the mobility and connectivity of the network nodes. However, in contrast to mobile ad-hoc networks, their dynamics are mostly predictable, as the name suggests. Currently, no adequate topology model exists for such networks. Moreover, routing protocols based on either static or mobile ad-hoc topology models do not exploit this predictability and thus are too inefficient for use in some application areas. We present a model that formalizes predictable dynamic topologies as sequences of static snapshots. We use this model to design and prove the correctness of a protocol based on link-state routing, whose performance is superior to its static and ad-hoc counterparts. Our routing protocol accounts for occurrences of additional, unpredictable changes, as well as their interaction with predictable changes. As an application area, we focus on routing in spacecraft networks and explain the suitability of our protocol for this application domain.