Improving data availability in ad hoc wireless networks

This paper presents a data replication approach for ad hoc wireless networks which aims to improve data availability. Besides, the number of replications is minimized, helping to reduce energy consumption and, thus, the application lifetime. A mobile node replicates its data either when its energy is in a weak level or when it is in the imminence of loosing connection. For replica allocation, the Bayesian decision theory is used, but with fuzzy states modeling and fuzzy observations made on the system. The proposed approach presents features that make it suitable to be used in a mobile computing environment.