Reliable Cross-Layer Data Transport Protocol for MANETs

Performance and adaptability of the transport protocol are among the most critical parts of the TCP/IP protocol stack since these factors are directly related to the user´s interaction and application experience. In this work we analyze specific problems of a reliable transport protocol´s performance caused by rapidly changing topology in MANETs in addition to classical transport layer challenges. Then we propose the Wireless Transport Protocol (WTP) - a new lightweight, bandwidth-efficient, and reliable cross-layer transport protocol capable of adjusting its performance to suit highly dynamic environments, such as MANETs. Experimental results show that simplifying the protocol reduces its processing, while cross-layer optimization enables more precise adjustments to network and connection fluctuations, hence increasing transport protocol efficiency by up to 9% under different conditions as compared to standard TCP protocol.