QoS based multipath routing in MANET: A cross layer approach

MANET is a network of mobile nodes which is infrastructure-less, self-configuring and are gaining popularity in recent times due to the ease of deployment. Applications such as audio/video conferencing require very stringent and inflexible Quality of Service (QoS) in data delivery. To provide QoS in Routing in MANET is a challenging issue because of the dynamic nature of nodes and limited node energy. In this paper, we proposed a QoS aware weight based on demand Multipath Routing protocol (QMR) to enhance Quality of Service (QoS). QMR is based on cross-layer design, which cooperate in sharing network-status information within different layers of protocol while maintaining the layers' separation to improve overall network performance. In QMR, the weight of the link is decided by multiple QoS factors like signal strength, and residual energy. The maximum aggregated weight decided by these factors helps to choose the most optimal route which is stable and energy efficient between source and destination. The proposed protocol offers an increased lifetime of nodes, better throughput, low packet delay and high packet delivery ratio in different mobile environments.