A Method for Finding Resources Using Mobile Agents

Efficient resource discovery and indexing is the assured way to provide low cost customized resource retrieval service in a mobile ad hoc environment. We present a novel resource discovery mechanism for MANETs that uses Routing Intelligent Mobile Agents(RIMAs). RIMAs periodically collect routing and resource availability information and index the same in capable RIMA nodes. At least one local RIMA node is known to other mobile nodes. The mobile node running an application in need of a resource dispatches a Resource Discoverer agent to its nearest RIMA node. The index available at the RIMA node will guide the Resource Discoverer to the data container node. The method has been simulated and tested on MANETs of varying sizes from 50 to 800 nodes. Simulation snapshots and results show the proper working and success of the algorithm