An Efficient Multi-path Routing Algorithm Based on Hybrid Firefly Algorithm for Wireless Mesh Networks

摘要

Wireless Mesh Network (WMN) uses the latest technology which helps in providing end users a high quality service referred to as the Internet's "last mile". Also considering WMN one of the most important technologies that are employed is multicast communication. Among the several issues routing which is significantly an important issue is addressed by every WMN technologies and this is done during the process of data transmission. The IEEE 802.11s Standard entails and sets procedures which need to be followed to facilitate interconnection and thus be able to devise an appropriate WMN. There has been introduction of several protocols by many authors which are mainly devised on the basis of machine learning and artificial intelligence. Multi-path routing may be considered as one such routing method which facilitates transmission of data over several paths, proving its capabilities as a useful strategy for achieving reliability in WMN. Though, multi-path routing in any manner cannot really guarantee deterministic transmission. As here there are multiple paths available for enabling data transmission from source to destination node. The algorithm that had been employed before in the studies conducted did not take in to consideration routing metrics which include energy aware metrics that are used for path selection during transferring of data. The following study proposes use of the hybrid multipath routing algorithm while taking in to consideration routing metrics which include energy, minimal loss for efficient path selection and transferring of data. Proposed algorithm here has two phases. In the first phase prim's algorithm has been proposed so that in networks route discovery may be possible. For the second one the Hybrid firefly algorithm which is based on harmony search has been employed for selection of the most suitable and best through proper analysis of metrics which include energy awareness and minimal loss for every path that has been discovered. Simulation results clearly shows that proposed algorithm performance is far better than other traditional algorithms in metrics such as packet delivery ratio, average end-to-end delay as well as routing overhead; additionally, it possesses high resilience in terms of capacity to cope with topological changes, which makes it absolutely appropriate and suitable for deployment in to industrial wireless mesh networks.