Improving message delivery performance in opportunistic networks using a forced-stop diffusion scheme

Abstract

The performance of mobile opportunistic networks strongly depends on contact duration. If the contact lasts less than the required transmission times, some messages will not get delivered, and the whole diffusion scheme will be seriously affected. In this paper we propose a new diffusion method, called Forced-Stop, that is based on controlling node mobility to guarantee a complete message transfer. Using the ONE simulator and realistic mobility traces, we compared our proposal with the classical Epidemic diffusion. We show that Forced-Stop improves the message delivery performance, increasing the delivery ratio up to 30%, and reducing the latency of message delivery up to 40%, with a limited impact on buffer utilisation and message relaying. These results can be a relevant indication to the designers of opportunistic network applications that could integrate in their products strategies to inform the user about the need to temporarily stop in order to favor the overall data delivery.