What if electronic communication networks could form in an instant, whenever and wherever they are needed? "Ad hoc" networks may be the future of connectivity, and this group is charged with researching them over the long term.

In an ad hoc network, routers are "free to move randomly and organize themselves arbitrarily." Imagine a swarm of bees communicating – or a group of people talking, for that matter. The language is universal (mostly), the mechanisms of communication lie within each person (or each bee), and the habitat (a living room, a hive) is conducive to conversation.

Ad hoc networking involves creating universal languages, methods, and mediums (here, wireless is important) of device communication.

According to the working group, "such a network may operate in a standalone fashion, or may be connected to the larger Internet operating as a hybrid fixed/ad hoc network." In other words, no longer must devices be directly connected to the Internet (or a local network) to be connected to each other: computers and other ad-hoc devices will be able to understand each other as easily as two people joined in conversation. While this may have been possible with some older technology, this research group seeks standards that are seamless, easily employed, and scalable.

Ad hoc network devices will be able to "choose" to connect to a larger network such as the Internet.

Early incarnations of ad hoc networking include the IETF’s emerging Zeroconf standard, and branded Rendezvous (or Open Talk) by Apple.

With electronic agents equipped to negotiate spontaneously with each other, ad hoc networking sets the stage for artificially intelligent devices to play an increasingly large role in the networked world.