A new connectionless routing algorithm using cross-layer design approach in MANETs

Routing is a key issue in wireless ad-hoc networks. The goal of an efficient routing strategy is to improve packet delivery ratio (PDR) and end-to-end delay in MANETs. Limited ability of layered architecture leads to the crosslayer design usage for routing operation in wireless environment. In this paper, a cross-layer connectionless routing is proposed based on Dynamic Virtual Router (DVR). In this algorithm, virtual route discovery process is controlled by restricting the request packets’ broadcast to the relatively slow speed, and low loaded nodes located in suitably crowded areas. Each destination decides to choose or discard the found route based on several cross-layer metrics. Using NS-2 simulator, the proposed algorithm is compared with standard DVR and it shows higher packet delivery ratio and lower end-to-end delay compared to DVR.