A cross-layer routing protocol for wireless mesh network based on ant colony algorithm

Basing on the requirements for high capacity and reliability of WMN data transmission, as well as the advantages of global optimization and highly self-organization of ant colony algorithm, we propose a cross-layer routing protocol based on ant colony algorithm, which is load-sensing and efficient. The protocol regards the nodes queue and frame transmission utility as a parameter measuring link quality, which will help enlightening path searching for routing. The results show this protocol can guarantee the transmitting rate of data between nodes, reducing delay of data packets, to some extent, achieve congestion controlling and load balancing.