A routing protocol based on node density for ad hoc networks

Ad hoc networks are a type of mobile network that functions without any fixed infrastructure. One of the weaknesses of ad hoc networks is that a route used between a source and a destination is likely to break during communication. To solve this problem, one approach consists of selecting routes whose nodes have the most stable behavior. Another strategy aims at improving the route repair procedure. This paper proposes a method for improving the success rate of local route repairs in mobile ad hoc networks. This method is based on the density of the nodes in the neighborhood of a route and on the availability of nodes in this neighborhood. Theoretical computation and simulation results show that the data packet loss rate decreased significantly compared to other methods which are well-documented in the literature. In addition, the time required to complete a local route repair following a failure was significantly reduced. 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.