Mobile Agent Network Topology and Routing Adaptation (MANTRA)

The need for an information system that can obtain, deliver, and interpret information in a timely manner poses special problems for a highly dynamic mobile network with limited bandwidth and computing such as those found in dismounted warrior systems. Mobile agent architectures provide a framework for meeting this goal. In addition to the framework, the network must have the logic to be self-adaptive, so changes to the topology or provided services are automatically taken into account. The logic that drives the agents must allow user commands to be efficiently executed to minimize data flow and minimize execution time. We propose to address these needs by designing and implementing agents that adapt to network conditions and ensure that task agents move and operate optimally. Specifically we envision on each node a Status Agent to maintain and propagate information on the network status, a Command Agent to configure mobile agents with a statically optimized Agent Itinerary and the necessary Agent Control Logic to dynamically optimize its itinerary, and a Schedule Agent to schedule services in our service-based architecture. We also propose to design and implement a Network Simulator Tool to enable testing, performance analysis, and eventual deployment in a hardware test environment.