Quadrant based intelligent energy controlled multicast algorithm for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANET) are a peer-to-peer communication network that can be used to transmit data using a mobile or wireless link without the support of fixed infrastructure. A literature survey highlighted that the key characteristics of efficient MANET nodes are reputation value, residual battery level and energy consumption. Various MANET algorithms and routing techniques such as location aided routing, broadcasting, multicasting and energy efficient routing have been developed. MANET intelligent routing algorithm requirements include a range of characteristics. This paper proposes a new MANET routing algorithm that includes quadrant based opportunistic routing, an intelligent energy matrix and energy status request messages with packet receipt acknowledgement notification. In quadrant based routing packets are transmitted towards the quadrant that the destination resides within. The proposed algorithm uses an intelligent energy matrix that creates a look up table including the key characteristics: reputation value, residual battery level and energy consumption. The proposed algorithm balances the traffic uniformly across four intermediate nodes in any desired quadrant. The simulation results presented in this paper demonstrate that due to the inclusion of the energy matrix and quadrant based routing, the number of broadcast messages decreases, reducing data flooding, providing improved channel efficiency and improves bandwidth utilization. Load balancing also increases the lifetime of intermediate nodes which provides improved route stability. The proposed algorithm also includes packet receipt acknowledgement notification which guarantees end-to-end packet delivery and provides reliable MANET routing. Comparison with two other MANET broadcast algorithms identifies that a slower transmission speed is offset by the proposed routing algorithm providing higher energy efficiency, reliability and stability.