Probability of multi-hop message dissemination in sparse linear vehicular ad hoc networks

In some safety applications of VANETs, vehicles must get the message immediately after they enter a hazardous section in the highway. In this paper the multi-hop message dissemination in sparse linear VANETs in different traffic states i.e. stationary and non-stationary traffic for the message to reach the newly entered vehicles is investigated. We release the condition of having a pre-determined number of nodes in the network- as previously assumed in the literature, and study a network with a random number of nodes. Our focus is on non-stationary traffic state where trajectory lines intersect and overtaking is allowed. We establish an analytical model based on which the probability that a message be disseminated to a specific node for both the traffic states is obtained. Here, the impact of some network parameters and traffic parameters such as transmission range, speed of nodes, and speed limits on message dissemination are investigated. In particular the fact that traffic dynamics increase the reception probability of messages is expressed here. The correctness and accuracy of the analytical results are evaluated by extensive simulation study.