Cross-Layer Design for Optimizing the Performance of Clusters-Based Application Layer Schemes in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

A critical challenge in mobile ad hoc networks is to scale with a flat structure. Clusters are customarily used at the network layer of these networks, especially for the routing schemes required to approach this problem. Recently, their use at the application layer has also been proposed. However, this new usage faces many performance challenges. This paper focuses on how to optimize the performance of cluster-based application layer schemes in mobile ad hoc networks. It proposes an architecture based on cross-layer design, a concept employed more and more in wireless environments, and which violates reference-layered architecture. We illustrate this architecture with a case study on a cluster-based session signaling scheme. We also present a proof-of-concept prototype and our initial measurements.