Hybrid delay tolerant network routing protocol for heterogeneous networks

Abstract

Delay Tolerant Networks (DTN) are becoming an emerging technology offering its users many advantages in terms of cost and ease of use especially with the emergence of new technologies related to the Internet of Things (IoT). Indeed, the IoT has achieved great success in various fields of application. However, it faces a multitude of challenges, especially data routing, intermittent connectivity, and limited resources such as (energy and bandwidth), especially between heterogeneous units of equipment. In this article, we suggest a new solution to meet these needs and settle these problems. This solution is based on a DTN routing protocol with QoS. This protocol is based on the hybridization of the advantages of the flooding strategy and forwarding strategy, in order to design a DTN routing protocol that is more adapted to the heterogeneous types new technologies' equipments in order to guarantee a better exchange of information between such types of equipment. The performance of our protocol is compared and evaluated by means of simulations through the Opportunistic Network Environment (ONE) simulation tool. The results obtained show significant improvements in terms of delivery rates and delivery times while maintaining and keeping an acceptable quality of information.