Novel strategies for path stability estimation under topology change using Hello messaging in MANETs

Abstract

Path stability estimation due to connectivity failures is one of the key challenges for effective communication under random mobility of network nodes in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). Under random movement of network nodes and topology triggered reactive path distribution statistics among the neighboring nodes, there must be a unified model to determine an adequate path stability estimation strategy in MANETs. We present novel link connectivity metrics (LCM) and path distribution analysis (PDA) strategies for path stability estimation under uniform speed and random trajectory of mobile nodes. We also design an adaptive routing model that guarantees effective communication among neighboring nodes inside a cluster. We find that LCM strategy among neighboring nodes is affected by the link expiration time, relative velocity, link connectivity, and link stability metrics in terms of remaining probability for a connected link, link recovery probability, and stability of a path at different time steps of a Markov process. We also find that PDA strategy among neighboring nodes is affected by the link excess life, distribution of path durations, cluster stability, and path duration statistics in terms of throughput and overhead during Hello message(s) communication at different time steps of a Markov process. Analytical and simulation results indicate efficacy of the proposed LCM and PDA strategies by efficiently estimating path stability under topology change, thereby, increasing the global network connectivity.