Efficient broadcast using selective flooding

Broadcast protocols are closely linked with point-to-point shortest routing in computer networks, and for broadcasting certain identified information, such as topological changes across the network. Multi-address messages entail high overheads. Reliable and efficient broadcasts are required to properly utilize the network bandwidth and ensure that users update the identified important information. It is assumed that local topological information in terms of connectivity is available at the nodes. This relative relationship is used predictively to reduce redundant transmissions in the broadcast of messages across the network; a simulation study shows the reduction to be significant. Furthermore, for regular topologies, the redundancy in transmission can be shown to be zero. In conjunction with appropriate selectivity of information to the broadcast, an efficient and reliable broadcast is obtained. This work is relevant to networks with frequently changing topology in packet radio, cellular telephone, and strategic networks