2006-09-21

Mesh Networks vs Adhoc Networks

The concept, or wording, of mesh networks is only recently emerging, or at least given major focus, so there is not official and clear definition yet of what distinguishes mesh networks from adhoc networks. Interesting that the wikipedia mesh networks article has recently been enhanced with a clarification of the differences between adhoc and mesh networks. According to the (anonymous) modifications, mesh networks are adhoc networks in which "the component parts [...] generally are not mobile". Another possible definition would be that mesh networks are adhoc networks, but in L2 rather than L3.

Personally, I would rather go with a modification of the first definition, though. For me, mesh networks are adhoc networks in which most or all the component parts are infrastructure nodes, mobile or not, as opposed to classical adhoc networks in which all nodes are terminals. In other words, mesh network nodes are dedicated exclusively to routing traffic from outside the network, while adhoc network nodes are primarily terminals that are also willing to route traffic from other terminals nearby. In both cases, however, the topology of nodes is expected to be more or less dynamic, and could even use the same protocols.

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