Title: Game theory for cooperative and relay communications in mobile ad hoc networks: a brief tutorial

Authors: Lu Yan

Addresses: School of Computer Science, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL10 9AB, UK

Abstract: In mobile ad hoc networks such as wireless ad hoc networks and sensor networks, most of the functions (routing, mobility management and security) must rely on cooperation between nodes. Every node in these networks is both end host (it generates its own data and routing traffic) and infrastructure (it forwards traffic for others), but rational nodes have no incentive to cooperatively forward traffic for others, since this kind of forwarding is not costless. Thus, we are motivated to use game theory to analyse cooperative mechanisms, and derive incentive strategies enforcing cooperation in forwarding. Unlike traditional approaches, in this paper, we introduce a novel and interdisciplinary simulation-based analysis scheme to the networking community in game-theoretic settings. Moreover, we investigate noise models and show some counterintuitive simulation results in presence of noise.

Keywords: sensors; wireless networks; tutorial; game theory; routing; security; cooperative communications; relay communications; mobile ad hoc networks; MANETs; mobile networks; sensor networks; mobility management; cooperation; simulation; noise models.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMNDI.2009.030442

International Journal of Mobile Network Design and Innovation, 2009 Vol.3 No.1, pp.3 - 9

Published online: 16 Dec 2009 *

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