Optimal cache-based route repair for real-time traffic

Real-time applications in ad hoc networks require fast route repair mechanisms to minimize the interruptions to their communications. Cache-based route repair schemes are popular choices since they can quickly resume communications using cached backup paths after a route break. In this paper, through thorough theoretical modeling of the cache-based route repair process, we derive the optimal cache-based route repair policy. This optimal policy considers both the overhead of the route repair schemes and the promptness of the repair action. The correctness and advantages of our optimal policy are validated by extensive simulations.