NTDR is the only "real" non-prototypical ad-hoc network that is in use today. It uses clustering and link-state routing, and is self-organized into a two-tier ad-hoc network. Development of different channel access approaches now in the CSMA/CA and TDMA molds, and several other routing and topology control mechanisms were some of the other inventions of that time.

Later on in mid-1990s, within the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the Mobile Ad-Hoc Networking working group was formed to standardize routing protocols for ad-hoc networks. The development of routing within the working group and the larger community resulted in the invention of reactive and proactive routing protocols.

Soon after, the IEEE 802.11 subcommittee standardized a medium access protocol that was based on collision avoidance and tolerated hidden terminals, making it usable for building mobile ad-hoc networks prototypes out of notebooks and 802.11 PCMCIA cards. HYPERLAN and Bluetooth were some other ad-hoc network standards that addressed and benefited ad-hoc networking.

The focus of current research is to standardize different existing schemes for different network controls in a single framework which could be taken as a standard for all the future applications utilizing ad-hoc networks as a networking technology. Wireless devices are getting smaller, cheaper, and more sophisticated. As these devices become more ubiquitous, organizations are looking for inexpensive ways to keep these devices connected. Building an ad-hoc network could make that happen.

James Booth is Editor-at-Large at ZATZ Publishing. In addition to writing for Computing Unplugged and Connected Photographer, he's the author of Do-It-Yourself Wedding Photography. A self-taught photographer, James also dabbles in digital graphics and has learned to be a PC and handheld specialist through personal trial and error. James can be reached at jbooth@zatz.com.