Viral Radio

  • Authors:
  • A. Lippman;D. P. Reed

  • Affiliations:
  • -;-

  • Venue:
  • BT Technology Journal
  • Year:
  • 2004

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Abstract

This paper defines a domain of study, some experiments and a research agenda to explore a topic we term viral radio. The premise is that we can make energy- and spectrum-efficient radio communications systems that scale (almost) without bound. We do this by treating the RF signals in a given space as a distributed optimisation process whereby each radio uses the presence of other radios to assist and cooperate in the delivery of messages. Any relaying that occurs is done in the RF domain; we thus eliminate delays normally associated with multi-hop ad hoc networks. Further, we embed the routing decision in the RF processing and view it as a matter of ‘flux-propagation’ rather than path definition — data is delivered from a source transmitter to the ultimate recipient with some RF amplification provided by any radios that are in the propagation path. Our goal is to develop a simple radio networking architecture organised on an end-to-end design basis. We expect that we can build scalable and efficient real-time telecommunications and broadcast systems that rely on no central radiator or suite of cell towers.