4-Node intelligent routing algorithm for mobile ad hoc networks
Creators: name: Rahman, Farukh
Publisher: name: RMIT University
Year: 2024

description: This thesis presents the design, model and performance analysis of a new and novel 4-node intelligent routing algorithm (4-NIRA) for Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET). The proposed 4-NIRA provides improved ad hoc communications over other prominent algorithms and has the additional advantage of being compatible with a diverse range of access networks such as IEEE 802.11, LTE, and LTE-Advanced.<br><br>A MANET is a network consisting of two or more compatible mobile devices capable of communicating with one another without the support of fixed infrastructure such as base stations or access networks. Similar to other communication techniques, MANETs require a routing algorithm for optimum performance. A number of algorithms have been proposed to date. Although each of these algorithms has its advantages, limitations still exist. Therefore, the need for an optimum routing algorithm that is fast, reliable, provides longer battery life and compatible with different access networks is still present.<br><br>The search for an optimum routing algorithm for MANETs initially led to the proposal of a quadrant based intelligent routing algorithm, which was refined by restricting its transmission range towards one quadrant. However, this algorithm can identify a longer path between two nodes when the number of nodes in the destination quadrant is large and an arbitrary path selection between nodes occurs. This limitation was overcome by selecting a subset of up to 4 nodes towards the destination. An intelligent energy matrix was also incorporated into the proposed algorithm to improve the energy efficiency of the technique by providing longer battery life. The proposed algorithm, 4-NIRA, is iterative and for each hop selects up to four nodes towards the destination and then identifies the node with the highest energy rating within the subset to act as the relay for subsequent data transmissions. To improve node identification and performance the IPv6 addressing scheme was utilised with 4-NIRA to add Quality of Service.<br><br>Initial research was carried out to develop improved MANET routing algorithms using an IEEE 802.11 environment and the outcomes of the research was the quadrant based intelligent routing algorithm and the 4-NIRA. The proposed algorithm, 4-NIRA, was developed using Long Term Evolution (LTE), which is a recent mobile cellular access technology that has a feature set that differs from that of IEEE 802.11, making it a suitable candidate for intelligent high performance MANETs. <br><br>The proposed 4-NIRA makes a novel contribution to MANET routing by improving relay node selection, introducing an intelligent energy matrix, and being compatible with a diverse range of access mediums. Selecting a subset of nodes in the direction of the destination node consisting of up to four nodes optimises the efficient utilization of bandwidth and improves transmission reliability. The intelligent energy matrix serves the purpose of spreading the traffic being routed over multiple intermediate nodes, thereby prolonging the device and network lifetime and increasing its reliability. The research culminated in a comparison of the simulation results obtained using the proposed 4-NIRA with those obtained using other prominent algorithms, which confirmed the superior performance of the proposed 4-NIRA.