Packet radio network routing algorithms - A survey

Several routing algorithms for directing packets in a packet radio network are described. Broadcast routing prevents endless looping or cycling of packets in single station radio networks (SSN) but involves inefficient bandwidth utilization. Hierarchical routing for SSN controls local traffic connection and distribution between stations and repeaters, but is a centralization concept. Larger networks can use directed broadcast techniques, wherein a message is relayed by a repeater only if the repeater is closer to the message goal than the previous repeater. Stationless routing is performed in three steps: finding a packet route, broadcasting a route set-up packet, and transmission using a small packet header to guide the message through interveining hops. Finally, multiple station routing features network control distributed among all stations, each of which control mobile terminals with their range. Failure of a station leads to remaining stations assuming the failed station's functions.