On the Application of Mobility Predictions to Multipoint Relaying in MANETs: Kinetic Multipoint Relays

In this chapter, we discuss the improvements multipoint relays may experience by the use of mobility predictions. Multipoint Relaying (MPR) is a technique to reduce the number of redundant retransmissions while diffusing a broadcast message in the network. The algorithm creates a dominating set where only selected nodes are allowed to forward packets. Yet, the election criteria is solely based on instantaneous nodes’ degrees. The network global state is then kept coherent through periodic exchanges of messages. We propose in this chapter a novel heuristic to select kinetic multipoint relays based on nodes’ overall predicted degree in the absence of trajectory changes. Consequently, these exchanges of message may be limited to the instant when unpredicted topology changes happen. Significant reduction in the number of messages are then experienced, yet still keeping a coherent and fully connected multipoint relaying network. Finally, we present some simulation results to illustrate that our approach is similar to the MPR algorithm in terms of network coverage, number of multipoint relays, or flooding capacity, yet with a drastic reduction in the number of messages exchanged during the process.