Analyzing the Node Exhaustion in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks due to location

Abstract

Mobile ad hoc network is a wireless Local Area Network without any access point and they do not require any fixed infrastructure for its working. Since these nodes are mobile, it's all battery operated and the energy is very limited. Many research works have been carried out to minimize and balance power consumption, thereby helping in extending the network lifetime. In this paper we have done an analysis of a ten node ad hoc network. We analyzed the hop count details of individual nodes. Based on the hop counts we have calculated the contribution percentage of each node in this ten node network towards the routing operation between source and destination nodes. We have found that the contribution level of nodes is purely based on the location. This causes a huge disparity in the battery exhaustion rate, where few nodes are overworked, which results in battery dead scenario for few nodes and will lead to network partitioning and reduced network lifetime. The battery exhaustion may also lead to selfish behavior of the nodes. Nodes which are cooperative in the beginning should not be isolated for selfish behavior which may happen due to battery exhaustion. This paper reiterates the need for further research in the area of battery power conservation and effective utilization.