Broadcasting Methods in Mobile Ad-hoc Networks

Wireless networks can be categorized into infrastructure and infrastructure-less based on the network formation and architecture. Mobile Ad-hoc Networks are infrastructure-less networks with self-configuring property having a dynamic topology where nodes are free to move in any direction, due to this topological changes there are increased chances of link breaks in the network giving rise to path failures and route discoveries. In order to discover routes, nodes broadcast route request packets to its neighbor, which in turn re-broadcast the packets to their neighbors until they reach the destination. This process initiate's broadcast storm problem. Broadcasting plays a prominent role for route discoveries in MANET's since most of the routing protocols make use of broadcasting methods for route discoveries. There are some broadcasting methods, we are going explore these methods in our paper and how they help us in routing process.