Gateway selection in multitiered mobile ad hoc networks

Mobile ad-hoc networks, such as tactical networks, are frequently implemented using multiple subnets, or tiers, so that nodes in one tier can communicate to nodes in another tier only through gateways that can communicate in two of the tiers. The selection of the gateway nodes affects the robustness and performance of the connected subnets. This paper presents an algorithm for selecting gateways in multitiered networks. The algorithm selects gateway nodes based on the performance impact, both current and predicted, to the network traffic. The algorithm is tunable to respond to restrictions on the number of permitted gateways and the number of standby gateways desired. This paper describes an implementation of the algorithm that controls nodes in a simulated network and presents directions for future research.