System-Level Support For Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks |

ABSTRACT:

Ad hoc and sensor networks are animportant, emerging niche that is poorly supported by existing operatingsystems. In this paper, we argue that network-wide energy management is aprimary concern in ad hoc networks, and that this functionality is bestprovided by a systems layer. We are currently designing and implementing adistributed, power-aware, adaptive operating system, called MagnetOS,specifically targeting ad hoc and sensor networks. MagnetOS provides a singlesystem image of a unified Java virtual machine across the nodes that comprisean ad hoc network. By automatically and transparently partitioning applicationsinto components and dynamically placing these components on nodes within the adhoc network, our system reduces energy consumption, avoids hotspots andincreases system longevity. We show that a systems approach to automatic objectplacement in an ad hoc network can increase system longevity by a factor offour to five.