移动自组织网络的应用迫切要求组播支持。应用层组播是解决组播问题的一种有效的 方案。针对目前移动自组网络中网络层组播出现的问题,深入研究了移动自组织网络应用层组播,并作了详尽的性能比较。深入分析了移动自组织网络覆盖组播的优势,并指出了移动自组织网络组播亟待解决的问题,为新的移动自组织网络应用层组播研究提供了非常有价值的研究方向。 关键词:移动自组织网络;应用层组播;组通信 Abstract:The application of wireless ad hoc networks require Supporting multicast. Application layer multicasting network is one of effective solutions for the multicasting problems. Compared with the disadvantage of network layer multicast protocol, this paper comprehensively investigates the researches that use overlay (application layer) multicast over ad hoc networks, and performs extensive simulations. Based on the analysis, this paper deeply analyzes the benefits of using application layer multicast over ad hoc networks. In addition, this paper discusses the issues that need to be investigated to multicasting over wireless ad hoc networks, and presents an all-important direction to the research in the future. Key words:wireless ad hoc networks; application layer multicast; group communication