Heuristic-based opportunistic network coding at potential relays in multi-hop wireless networks

Abstract

Network Coding (NC) has been a solution scheme for data exchange in communications that amalgamate data packets, especially in multi-hop wireless networks. Existing studies demonstrated the use of NC in wireless networks by evaluating its key advantages. The store-code-forward approach of network coding at relay nodes brings out the most relevant benefits in the performance metrics, such as power, throughput, and goodput in communication. COPE is a fundamental protocol, which exploits link diversity and the broadcast nature of a wireless medium using the XOR criteria for data packet amalgamation. COPE is unsuccessful in the exploration of maximum compatibility packets through which opportunistic routing can be maximized. Hence, to identify maximum compatibility packets at relay nodes, the paper presents the uses of Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) optimization algorithm integrated with shortest path planning technique for optimal routing. The authors have successfully demonstrated the validation of Routing-aware Heuristic-based Opportunistic Network Coding (RHONC) mechanism in the multi-hop wireless network. The paper evaluates the proposed mechanism, and enhances throughput gain, goodput gain, and reduced energy consumption against COPE.