LIFT: An Efficient Cross-Layer Service Discovery Protocol in MANET

This paper introduces LIFT, a combination of a cluster-based service discovery approach with a cross-layer service discovery scheme in order to discover services in mobile ad hoc networks. In this new proposal, high capability devices (HCD) are differentiated from limited capability devices (LCD). HCD are set up as the cluster leaders in each cluster so as to perform most of the service discovery activities. Consequently, messages, memory, energy, computing processes, and bandwidth were reduced due to the optimum usage of network resources. We implemented LIFT on the network simulator Ns-2 under various mobility conditions and cluster topologies. In order to know if our model achieves its goal to minimize resources, we have compared LIFT with another well-known solution (AODV-SD) in terms of control message overhead and energy consumption. After carrying out many trials and simulations, LIFT improved previous results in the area.