Improving ZRP performance by taking into account quality of links

MANET are characterized by their limited bandwidth and high packet error rate. In mobility, multi-path and shared bandwidth contexts, routing protocols play a major role. On-demand routing approaches lead to high delay while, in link-state protocols, controls messages broadcasting consumes much bandwidth. Hybrid protocols such as Zone Routing Protocol (ZRP) attempt to exploit the advantages of both approaches. It uses limited scope proactive approach to maintain routes towards a surrounding zone and reactive approach to communicate with farther destinations. For a better exploitation of network capabilities, we propose a Binary Error Rate (BER) based approach of ZRP (BER-ZRP). With BER-ZRP, all phases of link-state recording and routing tables calculation are under Quality of Service control so that better paths in terms of BER are preferred. The overhead induced by route maintenance and route discovery processes is better managed. This approach allows to improve ZRP Packet Delivery Ratio and Normalized Oversize Load.