A Cross-Layer Predictive and Preemptive Routing Protocol for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks Using the Lagrange Interpolation

Underwater wireless sensor networks have become enabling technology for the seawater exploration. Since they raise numerous challenges and problems such as their limited battery and bandwidth, energy-constraint, 3D deployment, and temporary losses of connectivity or link failure, in this paper, a predictive and preemptive cross-layer protocol CLPP-VBF is proposed based on the vector-based forwarding protocol (VBF) for UWSNs, aimed to predict a future loss of connectivity or link failure problems using the Lagrange interpolation method, avoiding unnecessary transmission and rediscovering another new forwarder node in order to guarantee the data packets transmission reliability. The approach is a cooperation between the medium access layer (MAC) and network layer. The study has been implemented and evaluated using the well-known NS2 network simulator with an extension Aqua-sim; the simulation performance shows the merit of CLPP-VBF against VBF in term of delivered packets, average end-to-end delay, and energy consumption.