Hierarchical Goal-Oriented Mobility Models with Applications to Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks

The new class of hierarchical goal-oriented mobility mod- els is introduced for the study of mobile ad hoc networks. The new models introduce role-based actors whose mo- bility behavior can vary in many different ways. The new models provide a flexible framework with aspects of both group (spatially correlated) and entity (spatially uncor- related) mobility models. The hierarchical rendezvous models in particular provide an abstract representation of civilian and military operations involving dynamic task- ing of small teams that form, separate, and reform over time on an ad-hoc basis. The models were motivated by the authors' research into protocols for highly directional delay tolerant MANETs for which the mobility model has significant performance implications. These are illus- trated through simulation results of the authors' Transient Information Level (TIL) protocol.