P-AODV: Energy-Aware Routing for Wireless Mesh Networks

This paper proposed an energy-aware routing method, P-AODV. Based on the AODV routing protocol, this study designed a passive power control (PPC) algorithm to enhance energy efficiency. The proposed method includes signal detection and power setting phases. During the signal detection phase, the source node broadcasts the route request packets (RREQ) and the downstream intermediate node calculates the optimum power level at the upstream intermediate node according to the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) after receiving the RREQ. During the power set phase, the destination node returns the RREQ packet to notify the power level of the upstream nodes to the source node. After that, all nodes from the source node to the destination node engaged in transmission will transmit data in a coordinated power level. As indicated by the computer simulation results, P-AODV could have 30% higher energy efficiency than traditional AODV. This PPC algorithm could also be used in wireless mesh networks (WMNs).