Exploring the Role of Wi-Fi Direct's Service Discovery Protocol in Forming Wireless Collaboration Networks: A Scoping Review

Abstract

The increasing ubiquity of mobile devices and the Internet has become a hallmark of modern society, yet challenges persist in ensuring reliable communication networks during unforeseen disruptions, such as pandemics, war, or natural disasters. Despite the advancement of Wi-Fi technology, the development of a comprehensive model for temporary communication networks based on Wi-Fi interfaces during these disruptions remains inconclusive. The temporary and infrastructure-less wireless network created by mobile devices is referred to as a Wireless Collaboration Network (WCN). To assess the extent to which wireless protocols have been leveraged in forming Wireless WCN, a scoping review was conducted. This review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing literature, specifically focusing on the Service Discovery (SD) protocol of Wi-Fi Direct within the Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET) domain. Our investigation delved into solutions developed by researchers in this domain and the various metrics employed to evaluate the performance of these solutions. The scoping review protocol encompassed nine distinct steps, ranging from formulating research questions to synthesizing results. The review process involved examining three major databases: IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, and Scopus, with the assistance of Mendeley for data organization and filtering. In total, our search identified 186 records across these databases. After rigorous screening, which included removing duplicates, irrelevant articles, and inaccessible content, we selected 35 articles for comprehensive review. These reviewed articles were then summarized and presented in a table, offering valuable insights into article titles, objectives, measurement parameters, techniques employed, and the noteworthy contributions of each work. The table serves as an invaluable resource for researchers in the field, facilitating a deeper understanding of the research landscape and enabling easier access to the collective knowledge within this domain.