MRTP: a multiflow realtime transport protocol for ad hoc networks

Transporting multimedia data over ad hoc networks is a challenging problem. However, the mesh topology of ad hoc networks implies the existence of multiple paths between two nodes. In our previous work, we have shown that path diversity provides an effective means of combating transmission errors and topology changes that are typical in ad hoc networks. Moreover, data partitioning techniques, such as striping and thinning, have been demonstrated to improve the queueing performance of realtime data. Recognizing the advantages of these techniques, as well as the increasing need of video services in ad hoc networks, we propose a new transport protocol to support multipath transport of realtime data. The new protocol, called multiflow realtime transport protocol (MRTP), provides a convenient vehicle for realtime applications to partition and transmit data using multiple flows. Analysis results from a bottleneck mobile node and simulation results from multiple path video transport over a 16-node ad hoc network illustrate the benefits of MRTP.