A Reliable, Available, High Performance Integrated Multimedia Delivery (RAPID) Tactical Communication System

Abstract : The accomplished research concerned the definition and development of a new wireless tactical network architecture that can reliably and efficiently support multimedia communication. This architecture, termed RAPID network, for Reliable, Available, High Performance Integrated multimedia Delivery" network, is characterized by the complete mobility of all nodes, limited bandwidth, large geographic areas, and large population of users. Networks with these characteristic are termed ad hoc networks, given their suitability for being used in an on-the-fly, ad hoc fashion. This project accomplished major results in three core areas of research for RAPID networks, namely: 1) Novel clustering protocols that realize a two tier physical/logical network organization, that achieve scalability while minimizing the clustering overhead; 2) Directional Routing, for robust and efficient routing of information throughout the network. 3) Virtual path design, to design scalable communication protocols for the RAPID architecture. Beyond the publications of dozens of papers, this project involved faculty personnel and students whose career advanced as a result of participating in the accomplished research.