Multipath Routing with Dynamic Load Balancing for Enhanced Energy Efficiency in Zone-Based Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANETs) consist of independent, self-organized mobile nodes capable of wirelessly communicating with each other in a reliable and secure manner. One of the major challenges in MANETs is energy consumption, as the lifetime of a node's battery is limited. This limitation can affect both network connectivity and the lifetime of individual nodes. Various protocols, proposed by the IETF and other solution providers, have aimed to optimize bandwidth, transmission quality, and power control, but none have significantly improved energy consumption. In response to these challenges, the proposed protocol is the Dynamic Load Balancing in Multipath Energy-Consuming Routing Protocol (DLB-MERP) for Wireless Ad hoc Networks. DLB-MERP can be viewed as an extension of the AOMDV protocol and is classified as a zone-based routing protocol, though it incorporates superior load balancing and energy management techniques. It introduces the concept of virtual zones to manage and distribute energy consumption in an organized way. The protocol selects communication paths based on the availability of node energy and power levels. A leader node is defined within each zone, chosen based on its energy level, load, and channel strength, to optimize energy usage. This method increases network resiliency through multipath routing, thereby enhancing overall network performance and extending network lifetime. DLB-MERP effectively addresses the limitations of existing energy-aware routing methodologies by balancing energy consumption, leading to prolonged network operation.