Enhancing MANET's performance: A cross-layer solution

A major issue in MANET is degradation in TCP throughput due to node mobility, interference, unreliable medium and route failures. Additionally, TCP suffers because it is unable to distinguish segment loss either due to route failures or due to congestion. Sometimes, TCP misinterprets wireless error as congestion. Another major issue of MANET relates to routing. Aiming at performance enhancement in MANET, we present a cross-layer solution that deals with increased RTT and congestion, and removes false interpretation of link failure due to node movement. We modify lower layer and use link stability information. We modify TCP New Reno to improve TCP performance. We involve DSDV and AODV routing protocol in our study. Along with this, we analyze performance of both actual and modified TCP New Reno implementations in term of Packet Delivery Fraction and Throughput.