An adaptive forwarding mechanism for data dissemination in vehicular networks

Efficient dissemination of messages in a Vehicular Ad Hoc Network (VANET) still face many challenges in the current research scenario. This paper addresses the problem of redundant forwarding of messages that occur during broad- cast and proposes an adaptive forwarding mechanism which controls the amount of redundant messages thereby improving message dissemination over a VANET. The mechanism will enable a node to efficiently forward a message and at the same time refrain other potential forwarders of the same message in a chosen area to forward the message. The algorithm exploits the density of nodes on the network for its functionality and will make an adaptive sector under which the redundant nodes will be refrained from sending the same message. The area of the sector for a particular node will be proportional to the density of its neighbors that are within the node's communication range. The proposal assumes that the nodes in the VANET are aware of their surroundings up to a certain area by periodic exchange of location information from each of the nodes. The mechanism will enable routing algorithms and/or beaconing systems to consume lesser bandwidth and thereby enhance the efficiency of the algorithm itself.