A hybrid multi-path ant QoS routing algorithm for MANETs

Supporting multimedia for Mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) is an important issue. This paper presents two routing algorithms in MANETs inspired by the ant colony optimization routing algorithms. The first algorithm is a Hybrid Multi-Ant (HMAnt) routing algorithm. It is a hybrid since it combines reactive path establishment with proactive path maintenance. It supports multi-path while maintaining an acceptable level of routing control overhead. The second algorithm is a HMAnt with QoS provision (HMAnt-QoS), which satisfies QoS requirements of the incoming traffic. Simulation results show that HMAnt outperforms AODV, AntNet, and AntHocNet in terms of end-to-end delay and packet delivery ratio, while having a moderate routing control overhead. HMAnt-QoS achieves its goal by providing paths that guarantee the QoS constraints for real time applications.