A load-adaptive timeout for beaconing-based link protocols in ad hoc networks

In a beaconing scheme (BS) each network node periodically broadcasts messages (beacons) to obtain and maintain an image of the network physical topology. Nodepsilas mobility and issues related with the communication process could degrade the BS view accuracy. This work proposes a novel method to improve the BS robustness face to the communication process drawbacks. Assuming a homogeneous traffic load, each node uses the information given by the medium access control (MAC) layer to dynamically adapt the Beaconing Timeout value. Several simulation results evaluate the adaptive method performance using the IEEE 802.11b DCF protocol. We conclude that the BS accuracy can be improved even when nodepsilas mobility is assumed.