Flooding for reliable multicast in multi-hop ad hoc networks
Ad hoc networks are gaining popularity as a result of advances in smaller, more versatile and powerful mobile computing devices. The distinguishing feature of these networks is the universal mobility of all hosts. This requires re-engineering of basic network services including reliable multicast communication. This paper considers the special case of highly mobile fast-moving ad hoc networks and argues that, for such networks, traditional multicast approaches are not appropriate. Flooding is suggested as a possible alternative for reliable multicast and simulation results are used to illustrate its effects. The experimental results also demonstrate a rather interesting outcome that even flooding is insufficient for reliable multicast in ad hoc networks when mobility is very high. Some alternative, more persistent variations of flooding are sketched out.
multicast ad hoc wireless broadcast routing