Topology Control within the Airborne Network Backbone

Active topology management in the Airborne Network AN can provide improved overall network performance, efficiency, and scalability. Topology management and control in airborne networks are critical due to the high degree of platform dynamics involved. The RF links that form an airborne network must be capable of being established and reconfigured rapidly in response to aircraft joining and leaving the network, aircraft changing flight paths, and the changes in mission information flows, among other things. Additional technical challenges stem from the fact that the airborne nodes will use multiple directional and omni-directional antennas with differing antenna patterns. In this paper we present a Mission Aware Topology Control MAToC solution for the Airborne Network. MAToC is comprised of deliberative and reactive topology planning components.