Aperiodic cache provisioning for new network nodes in wireless mobile ad hoc networks

On demand routing protocols for mobile ad hoc networks exploit route-caching strategies so as to lessen control traffic over a network. For route caches to be effectual, they must adapt dynamically to continuing topology changes. A node, once having established a cache, is able to transmit data traffic successfully, as route information is readily available. However, a new node joining an existing network does not possess such a cache and must build one through the use of route discovery techniques. Such a process leads to bursts of control traffic from a new node flooding the network, thereby preventing this new node, and existing nodes, from transmitting data traffic. The paper proposes a scheme that allows a new node joining a network to receive a copy of a neighbour´s cache. This aperiodic cache provisioning is used to lessen route discovery control traffic, which includes broadcast route requests and ensuing route reply packets, as the node possibly does not have to invoke route discovery techniques for each data packet that it needs to transmit, until an adequate cache has been developed.