Routing Protocols for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks - Classification, Evaluation and Challenges

A Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET) is a mobile, wireless network that does not necessitate a pre-existing infrastructure. The routing infrastructure needs to be established in a distributed, self-organized way. Many routing protocols for MANETs have been proposed, and some evaluating work has been conducted. The large number of the proposed routing protocols and evaluations makes it difficult to keep track of the development and to get an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of routing protocols. The author Daniel Lang analyses evaluation techniques from the past and describes common problems with simulation based evaluation of routing protocols for MANETs and how to resolve them. Simulation scenarios are examined and evaluated, sample applications are suggested and relations to past and present evaluations are drawn. A comprehensive number of MANET routing protocols is examined and categorized and similarities are deduced and presented. It is proposed that these can be used to reduce the number of experiments. This book is targeted at scientists and institutions conducting research about or pursuing the implementation of Mobile Ad Hoc Networks.