Performance modeling of message dissemination in vehicular ad hoc networks

In this paper, we present an analytical study for the performance of message dissemination in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) at the steady state. First, we find the probability that a receiving node is exposed to collisions and hidden terminal activities in a multi-hop VANET using a novel approach. Based on this result, we then derive the distribution of the number of concurrent transmissions in the system at the steady-state, through a birth-death process analysis. The distribution has a simple product form solution. Numerical results are provided, along with simulation results that confirm the accuracy of the analysis. In particular, it is shown that the distribution of the number of concurrent transmissions has a bell-shape curve. Results also show that the probability that a receiving node is exposed to interference increases as a function of the transmission range, an increase which becomes faster for networks with higher node densities.