Classification of multicast routing protocols for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

Multicast routing in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) is an interesting field of research. There are many multicast routing protocols specially designed for MANETs. Some of important challenges against designing an efficient multicast routing protocol for MANETs are limited battery in mobile nodes, frequent topology changes, signal interference, low radio range, and high packet loss ratio. Each solution looks at the problem from its point of view improving some aspects of the problem while ignoring others. In this paper we classify these protocols based on their solution methodology focusing on the well designed and well-known protocols in the field which most of them belong to the past, but present a clear view to the readers. Also, reliable multicast protocols have been considered.