An Efficient Routing Protocol for QoS Provisioning in Dynamic Multihop MANETs

Abstract

newline Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) are a self-configuring network of mobile nodes newlineconnected by wireless links. They are a part of ad hoc networks which in turn are a part newlineof wireless devices. With the increase in popularity and availability of small, portable newlinedevices and ease of implementation of wireless devices, a lot of interest has been shown newlinein MANETs recently. In MANETs, each mobile node works as a host as well as a router. newlineThey do not need any backup infrastructure and can be set up anywhere and anytime. As newlinethe cost of set up is very low and system can be set up very fast, they are used in a wide newlinerange of applications like setting up of conferences, e-classrooms, patient monitoring, newlinedetection of earthquakes etc. Ease of scalability of MANETs means these devices can be newlineadded to the existing set up more conveniently, thus making MANETs popular among newlineusers. newlineAll wireless devices are constantly growing in speed, memory, communication newlinecapabilities and feature, while shrinking in weight and size. With the growth and newlineproliferation of these devices in every aspect of society, the need for such devices to newlinecommunicate in a seamless manner is becoming increasingly essential. Also, as newlineMANETs gain popularity, their need to support real time and multimedia applications is newlinegrowing as well. Real time and multimedia applications supported by MANETs have newlinestringent Quality of Service (QoS) parameters such as efficient bandwidth utilization, newlineminimum delay, minimum packet loss, good throughput etc. Providing QoS is difficult in newlineMANETs due to a lack of centralized infrastructure based system, limited bandwidth newlineavailability, and constant movement of nodes, contention for channel access and the newlinehighly dynamic topology of the wireless network. Hence, design and development of newlineMANETs with necessary QoS parameters like low packet loss, good throughput, less newlinedelay etc. is very important. Also, the various applications of MANETs require the nodes newlineto be mobile, thus making the system dynamic. To provide a dynamic MANETs with newlinevarious QoS parameters, it is also necessary to have efficient routing algorithms, a newlineflexible architecture and fairness in distribution of available bandwidth and channel newlineaccess.