Multicast Routing in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

We focus on one critical issue in mobile ad hoc networks that is multicast routing. Advantages and limitations of existing routing protocols are illustrated. Optimal routes, stable links, power conservation, loop freedom, and reduced channel overhead are the main features to be addressed in a more efficient mechanism. In this paper, we propose a new on-demand multicast routing protocol, named Source Routing-based Multicast Protocol (SRMP). Our proposition addresses two important issues in solving routing problems: (i) path availability concept, and (ii) higher battery life paths. SRMP applies a source routing mechanism, and constructs a mesh to connect group members. It provides stable paths based on links' availability according to future prediction of links' states, and higher battery life paths. This protocol succeeded to minimize network load via designing optimal routes that guarantee reliable transmission and active adaptability. A performance comparison study with On-demand Multicast Routing Protocol (ODMRP) and Adaptive Demand-driven Multicast Routing (ADMR) protocol is undertaken. Analysis results show the strength of the SRMP nodes' selection criteria and its efficient energy consumption compared to the other two protocols.