Geocast-Driven Structureless Information Dissemination Scheme for Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks

Most data aggregation and dissemination approaches for VANETs attempt to create and utilize a structure for collecting information. The structures vary and could be categorized as either node-centric, as in a tree, mesh, or a cluster, or road-centric as in highway segmentation. In this paper we present a structureless information dissemination scheme that creates a layered view of road conditions with a diminishing resolution as the geocast distance increases. Our scheme first provides a high-detail local view of a given vehicle's neighbors and their immediate neighbors, which is further extended when information dissemination is employed. The scheme also allows for the preservation of unique reports within aggregated frames, such that safety-critical notifications are kept in high detail, all for the benefit of the driver's improved decision making during emergency scenarios. Here we report that our scheme provides the driver with a high detail view of road conditions sufficiently far ahead, as well as with aggregated information for the length of the whole geocast distance, all while preserving safety critical reports.