Enhanced ANTSEC framework with cluster based cooperative caching in mobile ad hoc networks

In a mobile ad hoc network (MANET), communication between mobile nodes occurs without centralized control. In this environment the mobility of a node is unpredictable; this is considered as a characteristic of wireless networks. Because of faulty or malicious nodes, the network is vulnerable to routing misbehavior. The resource constrained characteristics of MANETs leads to increased query delay at the time of data access. In this paper, AntHocNet+Security (ANTSEC) framework is proposed that includes an enhanced cooperative caching scheme embedded with artificial immune system. This framework improves security by injecting immunity into the data packets, improves the packet delivery ratio and reduces end-to-end delay using cross layer design. The issues of node failure and node malfunction are addressed in the cache management.