In reputation we believe: Query processing in mobile ad-hoc networks

Research on data management in mobile ad-hoc networks focuses on discovering sources and acquiring information. Mobile devices assume answers to be correct and do not verify the veracity of the information or the providers. This assumption is suitable for most client-server environments; however peer-to-peer environments lack the intrinsic stability of "anchored" sources. In mobile ad-hoc networks, sources may provide faulty information, which can lead to incorrect conclusions. Consequently, devices need a mechanism to evaluate the integrity of their peers and the accuracy of peer provided information. To address this problem we propose a query processing model that relies on distributed trust and belief. Each device maintains and shares beliefs regarding the degree of trust it has for its peers - where trust is determined by experience and reputation. Additionally, each device associates a value indicating its belief in the accuracy of the information it holds. This knowledge is used by devices to determine the reliability of query responses. We implement our model in GloMoSim and provide experimental results for different combinations of trust and accuracy algorithms.