Cross Layer Integrated Approach for Secured Cluster Selection in Ad Hoc Networks

Abstract

Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET) basically, is a collection of mobile hosts incorporating wireless interfaces that forms a transitory autonomous network. They do not base on fixed infrastructure or central administration, rather work on the principle of self-organized interconnections among mobile nodes. Fundamentally, in MANET when nodes come inside the transmission range of neighboring nodes', they can be detected by each other and can communicate directly. However for communication outside this range they have to depend on some other nodes to relay the messages .This is where routing protocols have to play a very important role. Literature for improving the performance of routing protocol is available in abundance. Among these comes, the hierarchical/cluster-based routing protocols that claim to reduce control overheads. Clustering in Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANETs) has proved to be advantageous compared to the traditional networks. However the highly dynamic and unstable nature of MANETs makes it intricate for the cluster based routing protocols to split a mobile network into clusters and determination of cluster heads for each cluster. Although much previous research has concentrated on cluster-head selection in MANETs, not much effort has been done on the security side of cluster-head selection. This paper emphasize that secure cluster head selection in MANETs has an intense effect on network performance. Specifically, we stress that in ad hoc network where all the participants are self controlled, security is an essential aspect and the effective cluster-head selection can improve network throughput. We propose a secure and effective cluster-head Selection scheme using a cross-layer approach that integrates cluster-head discovery and selection functionality with network ad hoc routing mechanisms and the lower layer drivers built-in the system. Besides, proposed scheme handle the disconnections in ad hoc network due to the effects of topology changes and battery depletion. This scheme allows clients to switch to better cluster-head nodes as network topology changes. Hence, provides better performance to network.