Rate-estimation-based relay selection scheme for large-scale wireless networks

Abstract

This study proposes rate-estimation-based relay selection scheme (RERSS) for large-scale wireless networks (LSWNs) that effectively distributes traffic of packets from a source to a sink. In an LSWN, direct data transmission from a source and a sink has been becoming a challenge. This is because of longer communication distance and more interference caused by more adjacent nodes. Hence, in order to transmit data packets to the sink, the source exploits neighbour nodes as relay nodes around it to forward packets through single-hop or multi-hop until reaching the sink. Different from the conventional cooperative relaying scheme, RERSS introduces a rate-estimation parameter A to select the forwarder for relaying messages. After determining A value of each neighbour relay node using a link rate stored in the advertising packet, the relay node whose A value meets the requirement of RERSS can be qualified as a forwarder of the source or the other relay node. Simulation results indicate the potential to not only increase throughput but also decrease energy consumption and end-to-end delay.