Cross-Layer Design for Packet Fast Forward in Mobile Ad Hoc Network

In this paper, we propose a novel cross-layer scheme for packet fast forward protocol in mobile ad hoc networks called the PFFMAC (packet fast forward MAC) protocol. PFFMAC is a cross-layer solution in which the MAC layer chooses different packet forward processes according to the routing table by estimating middle nodes. In PFFMAC, packet forward process in MAC layer is dynamically adjusted from routing information obtained in routing tables. RTS are sent with ACK at the middle nodes in available routing which never waits for a DIFS and back-off slots, leading to higher throughput, smaller delay and also lower overhead. This cross-layer based protocol can be easily used in any proactive and reactive routing without any additional control messaging. Formulation analysis shows that the cross-layer architecture with PFFMAC outperforms traditional 802.11 protocol performance. Also, extensive simulations are used to compare the two protocols. The results indicate that PFFMAC achieves significant improvements in network throughput, overhead, and packet delay and PFFMAC performs much better with larger nodes and higher node mobile rate