Reputation systems for self-organized networks

Self-organized networks such as mobile ad-hoc, Internet-based peer-to-peer, wireless mesh and Fourth generation (4G) Wireless networks, have been receiving increase attention, both deployment and research. However, there is one major issue in such self-organized communication systems which is "cooperation". These networks depend on cooperation of nodes. Addressing this issue, reputation system, proven to be useful and have been studied and applied separately in diverse disciplines such as economics, computer science, and social science, help nodes decide with whom to cooperate and which nodes to avoid. This system is offering a way of collecting information about the entity of interest, of updating it, and of incorporating the information about that entity obtained from others. It provides the basis of decision making itself, allowing nodes to chose other nodes for cooperation.