ProbT: A temporal probabilistic protocol to mitigate the broadcast storm problem in VANETs

VANETs are self-organized networks in which their constituent nodes are vehicles. They can be classified as a subcategory of MANETs. Due to their special characteristics, they demand protocols designed specifically for their scenario of action. Different types of applications can be created for VANETs such as security protocols, traffic management, systems maintenance, comfort for drivers and passengers, and others. In general, applications developed for VANETs make use of broadcast information. However, there are many issues to be considered. One of the central problems is the broadcast storm. In this paper we propose a temporal probabilistic protocol, named ProbT, to mitigate the broadcast storm problem. The ProbT performance was measured and compared to the protocols Blind Flooding, Weighted p-Persistence, AutoCast and Irresponsible Forwarding. Based on the results, the ProbT shows a good performance when compared to the mentioned protocols.