Context-based opportunistic forwarding in multi-hop cellular networks using mobile relays

Abstract

Multi-hop Cellular Networks can help address the increasing data demand and expected capacity constraints of cellular systems through the integration of cellular and relaying technologies. Multi-hop Cellular Networks using Mobile Relays (MCN-MR) are characterized by a decentralized and cooperative operation that provides new networking opportunities but also significant management challenges. In this context, this work investigates the use of opportunistic store-carry and forward schemes in MCN-MR networks to increase energy efficiency in the provision of delay tolerant services. In particular, the paper identifies for a two-hop MCN-MR scenario the optimum mobile relay location and the location from which the relay should start forwarding the information to the cellular base station in order to minimize the overall energy consumption. Taking this optimum configuration as a reference benchmark, the paper proposes then a scheme that relaxes the requirement to operate under the identified optimum configuration, and exploits context information provided by the cellular infrastructure. The proposed scheme is compared against other forwarding approaches, and the obtained results demonstrate the capacity of opportunistic forwarding in MCN-MR to reduce energy consumption for delay tolerant services.