Autonomic wireless networks in smart environments

Autonomic Computing defines computational systems that are able to manage themselves with none or minimal human intervention. The concepts related to autonomic computing in computer networks leads to the development of a new concept: autonomic networks. This kind of network is able to perform self-management of its elements and data communication links. Smart environments represent the next evolutionary development step in building, utilities, industrial, home, shipboard, and transportation systems automation. In those scenarios, wireless transmission is complex and often problematic, where a number of conditions such as multipath interference, transmission collisions, and obstructions adversely impact the reliability, scalability and data throughput of high bandwidth communications. This tutorial will present a perspective on autonomic wireless networks to be employed in the scenarios described above. The goal is to present the main characteristics of protocols, applications and services for those scenarios and how autonomic wireless networks can help in the design process.