tornets

Tornets is a term used in network theory to describe a class of time-varying networks in which the topology changes rapidly and continuously due to mobility, variable link quality, or dynamic participation of nodes. In tornets, connections between nodes can appear and disappear at short time scales, creating a fluid structure rather than a fixed graph.

Key characteristics of tornets include distributed control, local information reliance, and routing that adapts in real time to topology changes. Nodes typically use periodic beacons, local neighborhood exploration, and store-and-forward techniques to maintain communication despite churn. The emphasis is on robustness and adaptability, often prioritizing eventual delivery or low-latency paths under changing conditions rather than static optimal routes.

Applications of tornets span mobile ad hoc networks, vehicular networks, sensor networks in challenging environments, and disaster-response scenarios where infrastructure is unreliable. They are also studied in the context of delay-tolerant and opportunistic networks, where intermittent connectivity is expected and data may be carried by moving nodes until a contact is available.

Relations to other concepts include mesh networks and mobile ad hoc networks, with tornets distinguished by the higher frequency of topology changes and greater emphasis on dynamic routing and data-forwarding strategies. The term should not be confused with Tor networks, which pertain to anonymity, or with torrent file-sharing networks, which involve distributed data transfer.

See also: dynamic networks, mobile ad hoc networks, mesh networks, delay-tolerant networks.