CQMP: a mesh-based multicast routing protocol with consolidated query packets

Abstract

We propose a mesh-based multicast routing protocol for wireless ad hoc networks. The protocol retains all of the advantages of the on-demand multicast routing protocol (ODMRP) such as high packet delivery ratio under high mobility, high throughput. Moreover, the protocol significantly reduces control overhead, one of the main weaknesses of ODMRP, under the presence of multiple sources. This feature is a crucial contributing factor to the scalability of multicast routing for mobile ad hoc networks. The results are experimentally verified. It is shown that in the presence of high number of sources, our protocol reduces the control packet load by up to 30 percent, increases the multicast efficiency by 10 to 20 percent and improves the data delivery ratio of ODMRP.