A wireless hierarchical routing protocol with group mobility

Abstract

In this paper we present a hierarchical routing protocol in a large wireless, mobile network such as found in the automated battlefield or in extensive disaster recovery operations. Conventional routing does not scale well to network size. Likewise, conventional hierarchical routing cannot handle mobility efficiently. We propose a novel soft state wireless hierarchical routing protocol-Hierarchical State Routing (HSR). We distinguish between the "physical" routing hierarchy (dictated by geographical relationships between nodes) and "logical" hierarchy of subnets in which the members move as a group (e.g., company, brigade, battalion in the battlefield). HSR keeps track of logical subnet movements using home agent concepts akin to Mobile IP. A group mobility model is introduced and the performance of the HSR is evaluated through a detailed wireless simulation model.