Epidemic algorithms for reliable and efficient information dissemination in vehicular ad hoc networks

Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANET), which are created by vehicles equipped with short-and medium-range wireless communication, have an array of important applications in intelligent transport systems. Many of these applications require reliable, bandwidth-efficient dissemination of traffic and road information via ad hoc network technology. This is a difficult task since inter-vehicular networks often lack continuous end-to-end connectivity and are characterised by large variations in node density. A new epidemic algorithm for information dissemination in highly dynamic and intermittently connected VANET is introduced. It is shown through realistic simulations in highway traffic that the proposed algorithm is capable of reliable and efficient information dissemination in VANET in the face of frequent network fragmentation and large density variations.