Clustering in vehicular ad hoc networks: Taxonomy, challenges and solutions

Over the last few years, Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) have emerged as a new class of efficient information dissemination technology among communities of users mainly because of their wide range of applications such as Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), Safety applications, and entertainment during the mobility of the vehicles. Vehicles in VANETs act as an intelligent machine, which provides various resources to the end users with/without the aid of the existing infrastructure. But due to the high mobility and sparse distribution of the vehicles on the road, it is a challenging task to route the messages to their final destination in VANETs. To address this issue, clustering has been widely used in various existing proposals in literature. Clustering is a mechanism of grouping of vehicles based upon some predefined metrics such as density, velocity, and geographical locations of the vehicles. Motivated from these factors, in this paper, we have analyzed various challenges and existing solutions used for clustering in VANETs. Our contributions in this paper are summarized as follows: Firstly, a complete taxonomy on clustering in VANETs has been provided based upon various parameters. Based upon this categorization, a detailed discussion is provided for each category of clustering which includes challenges, existing solutions and future directions. Finally, a comprehensive analysis of all the existing proposals in literature is provided with respect to number of parameters such as topology selected, additional infrastructure requirements, road scenario, node mobility, data handled, and relative direction, density of the nodes, relative speed, communication mode, and communication overhead. The analysis provided for various existing proposals allows different users working in this domain to select one of the proposals with respect to its merits over the others. Clustering in VANETs with respect to various challenges and issues is explored.Detailed taxonomy for clustering in VANETs is provided in the text.Comparison of various clustering approaches with respect to various metrics.

[1]  Maxim Raya,et al.  Efficient secure aggregation in VANETs , 2006, VANET '06.

[2]  Azim Eskandarian,et al.  Mobility management in IVC networks , 2003, IEEE IV2003 Intelligent Vehicles Symposium. Proceedings (Cat. No.03TH8683).

[3]  Grzegorz Wolny,et al.  Modified DMAC Clustering Algorithm for VANETs , 2008, 2008 Third International Conference on Systems and Networks Communications.

[4]  Prithwish Basu,et al.  A mobility based metric for clustering in mobile ad hoc networks , 2001, Proceedings 21st International Conference on Distributed Computing Systems Workshops.

[5]  Lian Zhao,et al.  A fuzzy-logic-based cluster head selection algorithm in VANETs , 2012, 2012 IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC).

[6]  Mario Gerla,et al.  Group-based secure source authentication protocol for VANETs , 2010, 2010 IEEE Globecom Workshops.

[7]  Joel J. P. C. Rodrigues,et al.  GeoSpray: A geographic routing protocol for vehicular delay-tolerant networks , 2014, Inf. Fusion.

[8]  Hang Su,et al.  Clustering-Based Multichannel MAC Protocols for QoS Provisionings Over Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology.

[9]  S. S. Manvi,et al.  Multiagent driven dynamic clustering of vehicles in VANETs , 2012, J. Netw. Comput. Appl..

[10]  Robin Kravets,et al.  QuickSilver: application-driven inter- and intra-cluster communication in Vanets , 2012, MobiOpp '12.

[11]  H. T. Mouftah,et al.  Privacy preserving broadcast message authentication protocol for VANETs , 2013, J. Netw. Comput. Appl..

[12]  Abdelhakim Hafid,et al.  A new stability based clustering algorithm (SBCA) for VANETs , 2012, 37th Annual IEEE Conference on Local Computer Networks - Workshops.

[13]  David Antolino Rivas,et al.  Security on VANETs: Privacy, misbehaving nodes, false information and secure data aggregation , 2011, J. Netw. Comput. Appl..

[14]  Ismail Salhi,et al.  Data Collection in Vehicular Networks , 2008 .

[15]  Peng Fan,et al.  Cluster-Based Framework in Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks , 2005, ADHOC-NOW.

[16]  Ahmed Helmy,et al.  The IMPORTANT framework for analyzing the Impact of Mobility on Performance Of RouTing protocols for Adhoc NeTworks , 2003, Ad Hoc Networks.

[17]  Peng Fan,et al.  Theoretical analysis of a directional stability-based clustering algorithm for vanets , 2008, VANET '08.

[18]  Melbourne Barton,et al.  Efficient flooding with passive clustering-an overhead-free selective forward mechanism for ad hoc/sensor networks , 2003 .

[19]  Yan Zhang,et al.  A Distributed Group Mobility Adaptive Clustering Algorithm for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks , 2008, 2008 IEEE International Conference on Communications.

[20]  Houda Labiod,et al.  Modified C-DRIVE: Clustering based on direction in vehicular environment , 2011, 2011 IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium (IV).

[21]  Zaydoun Y. Rawashdeh,et al.  A novel algorithm to form stable clusters in vehicular ad hoc networks on highways , 2012, EURASIP J. Wirel. Commun. Netw..

[22]  P. Subathra,et al.  Authentic Vehicular Environment Using a Cluster Based Key Management , 2009 .

[23]  Ahmad Khademzadeh,et al.  VWCA: An efficient clustering algorithm in vehicular ad hoc networks , 2011, J. Netw. Comput. Appl..

[24]  Pawel Gburzynski,et al.  A New Aggregate Local Mobility (ALM) Clustering Algorithm for VANETs , 2010, 2010 IEEE International Conference on Communications.

[25]  Naveen K. Chilamkurti,et al.  Learning Automata-based Opportunistic Data Aggregation and Forwarding scheme for alert generation in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks , 2014, Comput. Commun..

[26]  Tracy Camp,et al.  Location information services in mobile ad hoc networks , 2002, 2002 IEEE International Conference on Communications. Conference Proceedings. ICC 2002 (Cat. No.02CH37333).

[27]  Peng Fan Improving Broadcasting Performance by Clustering with Stability for Inter-Vehicle Communication , 2007, 2007 IEEE 65th Vehicular Technology Conference - VTC2007-Spring.

[28]  Yuguang Fang,et al.  An Identity-Based Security System for User Privacy in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems.

[29]  Jelena V. Misic,et al.  ID-based Safety Message Authentication for Security and Trust in Vehicular Networks , 2011, 2011 31st International Conference on Distributed Computing Systems Workshops.

[30]  Slawomir Kuklinski,et al.  Density Based Clustering algorithm for Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks , 2009, Int. J. Internet Protoc. Technol..

[31]  Maxim Raya,et al.  Securing vehicular ad hoc networks , 2007, J. Comput. Secur..

[32]  Sheng-Tzong Cheng,et al.  Using Cellular Automata to Form Car Society in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems.

[33]  Kenji Ishida,et al.  An Adaptive Multihop Clustering Scheme for Ad Hoc Networks with High Mobility , 2003, IEICE Trans. Fundam. Electron. Commun. Comput. Sci..

[34]  Yan Shi,et al.  A mobility metrics based dynamic clustering algorithm for VANETs , 2011 .

[35]  Wang-Rong Chang,et al.  TrafficGather: An Efficient and Scalable Data Collection Protocol for Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks , 2008, 2008 5th IEEE Consumer Communications and Networking Conference.

[36]  Tankut Acarman,et al.  Clustering Formation for Inter-Vehicle Communication , 2007, 2007 IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems Conference.

[37]  S. Almalag Mohammad,et al.  Using traffic flow for cluster formation in vehicular ad-hoc networks , 2010, LCN 2010.

[38]  Juan-Carlos Cano,et al.  An efficient and robust content delivery solution for IEEE 802.11p vehicular environments , 2012, J. Netw. Comput. Appl..

[39]  Hussein Zedan,et al.  A comprehensive survey on vehicular Ad Hoc network , 2014, J. Netw. Comput. Appl..

[40]  Houda Labiod,et al.  A stable clustering algorithm for efficiency applications in VANETs , 2011, 2011 7th International Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing Conference.

[41]  Chen Avin,et al.  Fast randomized algorithm for 2-hops clustering in vehicular ad-hoc networks , 2013, Ad Hoc Networks.

[42]  Slawomir Kuklinski,et al.  Density based clustering algorithm for VANETs , 2009, 2009 5th International Conference on Testbeds and Research Infrastructures for the Development of Networks & Communities and Workshops.

[43]  Albert Y. Zomaya,et al.  LICA: robust localization using cluster analysis to improve GPS coordinates , 2011, DIVANet '11.

[44]  MengChu Zhou,et al.  A Position-Based Clustering Technique for Ad Hoc Intervehicle Communication , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, Part C (Applications and Reviews).

[45]  Pravin Varaiya,et al.  Space division multiple access (SDMA) for robust ad hoc vehicle communication networks , 2001, ITSC 2001. 2001 IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems. Proceedings (Cat. No.01TH8585).

[46]  Juan-Carlos Cano,et al.  VEACON: A Vehicular Accident Ontology designed to improve safety on the roads , 2012, J. Netw. Comput. Appl..

[47]  Li Li,et al.  VeMAC: A TDMA-Based MAC Protocol for Reliable Broadcast in VANETs , 2013, IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing.

[48]  Shahrokh Valaee,et al.  Mobility-Based Clustering in VANETs Using Affinity Propagation , 2009, GLOBECOM 2009 - 2009 IEEE Global Telecommunications Conference.

[49]  Chen Avin,et al.  Fast randomized algorithm for hierarchical clustering in Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks , 2011, 2011 The 10th IFIP Annual Mediterranean Ad Hoc Networking Workshop.

[50]  Azzedine Boukerche,et al.  Performance evaluation of an efficient fault tolerant service discovery protocol for vehicular networks , 2012, J. Netw. Comput. Appl..

[51]  Jian Ma,et al.  The insights of message delivery delay in VANETs with a bidirectional traffic model , 2013, J. Netw. Comput. Appl..

[52]  Joel J. P. C. Rodrigues,et al.  Man4VDTN - A network management solution for vehicular delay-tolerant networks , 2014, Comput. Commun..

[53]  Stefano Basagni,et al.  Mitigating the impact of node mobility on ad hoc clustering , 2008, Wirel. Commun. Mob. Comput..

[54]  Ashish Agarwal,et al.  An Information Propagation Scheme for VANETs , 2005 .

[55]  Azim Eskandarian,et al.  The threat of intelligent collisions , 2004, IT Professional.

[56]  Azzedine Boukerche,et al.  A novel multi-hop clustering scheme for vehicular ad-hoc networks , 2011, MobiWac '11.

[57]  António Fonseca,et al.  Applicability of position-based routing for VANET in highways and urban environment , 2013, J. Netw. Comput. Appl..

[58]  Stephan Olariu,et al.  TDMA cluster-based MAC for VANETs (TC-MAC) , 2012, 2012 IEEE International Symposium on a World of Wireless, Mobile and Multimedia Networks (WoWMoM).

[59]  Juan-Carlos Cano,et al.  An efficient and robust content delivery solution for IEEE 802 . 11 p vehicular environments , 2014 .

[60]  Md. Humayun Kabir,et al.  TTL based routing in opportunistic networks , 2011, J. Netw. Comput. Appl..

[61]  Weiwei Li,et al.  Robust clustering for connected vehicles using local network criticality , 2012, 2012 IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC).

[62]  Pascal Lorenz,et al.  An adaptive approach for information dissemination in Vehicular Ad hoc Networks , 2011, Journal of Network and Computer Applications.

[63]  Javier Gozálvez,et al.  Traffic congestion detection in large-scale scenarios using vehicle-to-vehicle communications , 2013, J. Netw. Comput. Appl..

[64]  Antonella Molinaro,et al.  Augmenting Vehicle-to-Roadside connectivity in multi-channel vehicular Ad Hoc Networks , 2013, J. Netw. Comput. Appl..

[65]  Zhiyi Fang,et al.  Securing Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks , 2007, 2007 2nd International Conference on Pervasive Computing and Applications.

[66]  Leandros A. Maglaras,et al.  Distributed clustering in vehicular networks , 2012, 2012 IEEE 8th International Conference on Wireless and Mobile Computing, Networking and Communications (WiMob).

[67]  Choong Seon Hong,et al.  An Adaptable Mobility-Aware Clustering Algorithm in vehicular networks , 2011, 2011 13th Asia-Pacific Network Operations and Management Symposium.

[68]  Michael Segal,et al.  Near-optimal, reliable and self-organizing hierarchical topology in VANET , 2011, VANET '11.

[69]  Tomoyuki Ohta,et al.  A Data Transfer Scheme Using Autonomous Clustering in VANETs Environment , 2011, 2011 Tenth International Symposium on Autonomous Decentralized Systems.

[70]  Jong Hyuk Park,et al.  ALCA: agent learning–based clustering algorithm in vehicular ad hoc networks , 2012, Personal and Ubiquitous Computing.

[71]  Sheng-Shih Wang,et al.  PassCAR: A passive clustering aided routing protocol for vehicular ad hoc networks , 2013, Comput. Commun..

[72]  Sidi-Mohammed Senouci,et al.  A New Architecture for Data Collection in Vehicular Networks , 2009, 2009 IEEE International Conference on Communications.

[73]  Abdelfettah Belghith,et al.  Secure Clustering Scheme Based Keys Management in VANETs , 2011, 2011 IEEE 73rd Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC Spring).

[74]  Sherali Zeadally,et al.  Security attacks and solutions for vehicular ad hoc networks , 2010, IET Commun..

[75]  Yongdong Wu,et al.  Embedded info-security solutions for vehicular networks , 2008, 2008 Third International Conference on Communications and Networking in China.

[76]  P ? ? ? ? ? ? ? % ? ? ? ? , 1991 .

[77]  Luciano Bononi,et al.  A Cross Layered MAC and Clustering Scheme for Efficient Broadcast in VANETs , 2007, 2007 IEEE Internatonal Conference on Mobile Adhoc and Sensor Systems.

[78]  Abderrahmane Lakas,et al.  An efficient and robust clustered data gathering protocol (CDGP) for vehicular networks , 2012, DIVANet@MSWiM.

[79]  Raúl Aquino-Santos,et al.  Performance evaluation of routing protocols in vehicular ad-hoc networks , 2005, Int. J. Ad Hoc Ubiquitous Comput..

[80]  Liren Zhang,et al.  A Novel Cluster-Based Protocol for Topology Discovery in Vehicular Ad Hoc Network , 2012, ANT/MobiWIS.

[81]  Hans Peter Großmann,et al.  Medium Access Concept for VANETs Based on Clustering , 2007, 2007 IEEE 66th Vehicular Technology Conference.

[82]  Stefano Basagni,et al.  Distributed clustering for ad hoc networks , 1999, Proceedings Fourth International Symposium on Parallel Architectures, Algorithms, and Networks (I-SPAN'99).

[83]  Luciano Bononi,et al.  Design and performance evaluation of cross layered MAC and clustering solutions for wireless ad hoc networks , 2006, Perform. Evaluation.

[84]  Guizhen Yu,et al.  A VANETs routing algorithm based on Euclidean distance clustering , 2010, 2010 2nd International Conference on Future Computer and Communication.