TMACS: type-based distributed middleware for mobile ad-hoc networks

This paper presents the design and implementation o f TMACS – a distributed middleware framework for Mobile Ad-hoc Network (MANETs). TMACS leverages type-based group communi cation paradigm in which type is used as a first-class abs traction for identifying groups and provides a novel group-based RPC -mechanism called TRPC as a higher-level communication abstrac tion suitable for MANET computing environments. A fully decentral ized discovery service has been provided to lookup the meta-in formation of the distributed objects and services. At the network la yer, TMACS implements TypeCast routing protocol to efficiently s upport TRPC and service discovery via effective type disseminat io and aggregation mechanisms. A complete system implementation o f TMACS has been deployed on linux-based mobile devices and has been used to program a variety of applications. We present resu lts from a selected set of applications and services that includ e an ad-hoc distributed caching service and an ad-hoc marketplace pplication. The physical implementations were used to evaluate the performance of TMACS and demonstrate its resiliency in th e presence of mobility-induced topology changes. Category and Subject Descriptor D.2.11 [Software Engineering]: Software Architectur es -patterns