Patent ID: 8660047

Claim:
A method of broadcasting at least one data packet in a network formed by a plurality of mobile nodes adapted to move in a geographical space, said method comprising: local broadcasting in a predetermined area of said geographical space, called a cell, during which said at least one data packet is broadcast to the plurality of mobile nodes present in said cell, wherein said cell is defined by a virtual anchor point having fixed geographical coordinates and corresponding to the center of said cell; receiving said at least one data packet; performing a selection during which each of the plurality of mobile nodes determines whether it is a candidate for broadcasting said at least one data packet in said cell; and electing a candidate node from among the plurality of mobile nodes as broadcaster node of said at least one data packet in said cell as a function of an estimated travel time of said candidate node to the center of said cell, said candidate node being elected as the broadcaster node when it is estimated to be the first to reach the center of the cell; wherein said candidate node broadcasts a notification message reporting that it has been elected as the broadcaster node if it has not received any such notification message from another node; and wherein said local broadcasting step is carried out when said broadcaster node is located in the vicinity of the center of said cell.