Efficient Cooperative Caching in Ad Hoc Networks

Caching of frequently accessed data in multi-hop ad hoc environment is a potential technique that can improve the data access performance and availability. Cooperative caching, which allows the sharing and coordination of cached data among clients, can further explore the potential of the caching techniques. In this paper, we propose a novel scheme, called zone cooperative (ZC) for caching in mobile ad hoc networks. In ZC scheme, one-hop neighbors of a mobile client form a cooperative cache zone since the cost for communication with them is low both in terms of energy consumption and message exchange. As a part of cache management, cache admission control and VALUE based replacement policy are developed to improve the data accessibility and reduce the local cache miss ratio. An analytical study of ZC based on data popularity, node density and transmission range is also performed. Simulation experiments show that the ZC caching mechanism achieves significant improvements in cache hit ratio and average query latency in comparison with other caching strategies