A Unified Routing Framework for Resource-Constrained Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

In resource-constrained mobile ad hoc networks(MANETs), routing protocols are usually implemented inside mobile nodes for resource saving and fast response to topology changes. However, existing routing protocols are implemented in either user space or inside the kernel of operating systems, which suffers from sophisticated system-level programming and inefficient routing management. In this paper, we design a unified routing framework integrating implementation and management for both proactive and reactive routing protocols in MANETs. Under the framework, we provide a series of application interfaces in user space for implementation of routing protocols, hiding complicated programming details in the kernel. In this way, both types of routing protocols are able to be implemented just in the user space thus significantly reducing implementation efforts. Moreover, through interactive terminal multiple routing protocol routines can be managed and setup in a unified pattern. To demonstrate the feasibility of the unifed routing framework, we implement its components on Linux 5.4 kernel. Furthermore, a well-known routing protocol AODV is implemented under the framework as an example. The source codes are publicly available for further research in the community.