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.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 1999
• Where: DIALM
• Authors: Christopher Ho, Katia Obraczka, Gene Tsudik, Kumar Viswanath
• Keywords: Ad Hoc Networks, Algorithms, DIALM 1999, Reliable Multicast, Reliable Multicast Communication