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.