An enhanced message exchange mechanism in cluster-based mobile ad hoc networks

In mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs), networks can be partitioned into clusters. Clustering algorithms are localized algorithms that have the property of creating an upper bounded clusterheads in any networks even in the worst case. Generally, clusterheads and selected gateways form a connected dominating set (CDS) of the network. This CDS forms the backbone of the network and can be used for routings (broadcasting/multicasting/unicating). As clusterheads need to determine the selected gateways to connect their adjacent clusterheads within the coverage set, they periodically collect 2-hop and 3-hop clusterhead information. These information can be gathered when they hear their non-clusterhead neighbors sending out messages that contain neighboring clusterhead information. These extra maintenance cost can be reduced when some enhanced mechanism is applied. In this paper, an enhanced mechanism is proposed to reduce the total length of the messages when non-clusterhead nodes exchange their 1-hop and 2-hop neighboring clusterhead information. Simulation shows that over 50% of message overhead can be saved for dense networks.