Constructing rigorous MANET simulation scenarios with realistic mobility

Abstract

Researchers need to choose an appropriate scenario to study the performance of a Mobile Ad hoc NETwork (MANET) via simulation. For example, routing is not properly evaluated when the shortest path between each pair of nodes in the simulation scenario is two or less. Various standards may be required to construct a credible MANET simulation scenario. In this work, we concentrate upon three standards for evaluating MANET routing protocols. Metrics involved in these standards are: average shortest-path hop count, average network partitioning, and average neighbor count. The main contribution of this work is to provide researchers with models that allow them to easily construct rigorous MANET simulation scenarios. The input to our models is the desired values for the three metrics mentioned; our models then output parameters for a simulation scenario that approximately meet the researcher's target values for the metrics. Our models were designed using a recently published mobility model that was constructed by extracting the statistical features of real human movement. Our models enable researchers to test MANET routing protocols in a more realistic manner, thereby improving the credibility of their MANET simulation studies.