A cross-layer route discovery strategy for virtual currency systems in mobile ad hoc networks

New challenges arise for mobile ad hoc networks when their nodes belong to different authorities. Cooperation and fair behavior cannot be taken for granted, but are essential for wide distribution of this network type. One solution to this problem is the integration of rewarding schemes using virtual currency systems. Nodes are compensated for their service to stimulate cooperation, and payment for used services prevents selfishness and free riders. Besides, integrated payment systems can make mobile ad hoc networks attractive for a number of business scenarios. Most of today's payment systems are realized as a service in mobile ad hoc networks and consequently do not profit from deep integration into routing mechanism. As a solution to this drawback, we present in this paper a new cross layer optimized route discovery scheme for reactive routing protocols, particularly designed to fit the needs of payment systems. Using a distributed route pre-selection technique in combination with artificial delaying of route discovery packets, the performance of the protocol was optimized which will be shown using simulations. The proposed route discovery scheme can be used by a number of reactive routing protocols. Exemplarily, we present a realization based on dynamic source routing (DSR). Additionally we discuss other application scenarios that can profit by using the concepts presented in this paper.