Aperiodic cache provisioning for new network nodes in wireless mobile ad hoc networks

On demand routing protocols for mobile ad hoc networks exploit route-caching strategies so as to lessen control traffic over a network. For route caches to be effectual they must dynamically adapt to continuing topology changes. A node once having established a cache is able to successfully transmit data traffic, as route information is readily available. However, a new node joining an existing network does not possess such a cache and must build one through the use of route discovery techniques. Such a process leads to bursts of control traffic, from a new node, flooding the network thereby preventing this new node and existing nodes from transmitting data traffic. This paper proposes a scheme that allows a new node joining a network to receive from a neighbour a copy of its cache. This aperiodic cache provisioning will be used to lessen route discovery control traffic, which includes broadcast route requests and ensuing routes reply packets, as the node possibly does not have to invoke route discovery techniques for each data packet that it needs to transmit, until an adequate cache has been developed.