A Study and Review on Link Failure Prediction and Detection in Mobile Ad hoc Network

A wireless network with multiple hops but no fixed infrastructure is known as a mobile ad hoc network (MANET). Its salient features are self-configuring, self-organized and dynamically changing network topology. Devices like laptop and personal digital assistants can transfer the data packets either over radio or infrared links. MANETs are prominently used in the area of military applications, disaster management, search and rescue operations etc. where the network architecture is temporary in nature and it is difficult to establish a central control for the network. Major limitations and challenges of the MANET include limited transmission range of nodes, limited battery power, node mobility, dynamic topology, effective routing and node & link failure. Transmission efficiency of the network is drastically reduced due to the frequent node and link failures. Hence link failure prediction plays a crucial role in increasing the efficiency and reliability of the network. The purpose of this paper is to do an exhaustive literature review and critical study of various challenges for improving routing efficiency of MANET protocols with specific attention to the link failure detection and prediction.