A probabilistic model for communication link reliability in vehicular ad hoc networks

In this paper, we present analytical models for the probability density function (PDF) of link life time and link reliability probability in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs), formed on single lane highways in free flow traffic state. Assuming the vehicle velocity to have Gaussian probability distribution we investigate the impact of vehicle mobility, path loss exponent and shadow fading on the link life time PDF and the mean link life time in VANETs. Our analytical and simulation results suggest that, in the free flow uncongested traffic state in which vehicle speed has Gaussian probability distribution, the link duration PDF can be approximated as lognormal with appropriate parametrization. We present the Kolmogorov-Smirnov goodness-of-fit test results to justify this claim. Further, we present a probabilistic model for link reliability in VANETs.