Social Networks Based Ad Hoc Mobility Models

Most current research on mobile ad hoc networks relies on simulations. One of the key points in the design of good simulations is the choice of realistic movement models. Since there is a nearly total absence of realistic data in the public domain, synthetic models for movement pattern generation must be used. However, the most widely used models are currently very simplistic and totally unrealistic.

Our approach is based on a simple consideration: mobile networks are social networks after all, since mobile devices are usually carried by humans. In fact, it is possible to observe that the movement pattern of humans are strongly influenced by the social relationships amongst them. This can be mathematically modelled with a high degree of precision.

In this paper, we outline our current research efforts in designing more realistic mobility models based on the exploitation of recent results in social networks theory. We start from a discussion of the initial model presented in [4] and we analyse several possible refinements of this solution.