A Framework for Opportunistic Forwarding in Disconnected Networks

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze the performance of a family of opportunistic forwarding schemes (the K-copy relaying strategies) over disconnected wireless networks. We introduce a classification of mobility models based on their dynamic properties, and characterize the M2 (marks-memory less) class. Statistical tools are combined with numerical simulations to show that some of the most used mobility models in the literature fall within the M2 class. A mathematical framework is provided for evaluating the performance of opportunistic forwarding schemes in the presence of M2 mobility, and it is shown that the finiteness of the mean time necessary to deliver a message depends only on the mobility characteristics and not on the relaying protocol specification