A Game Theory-based strategic approach to ensure reliable data transmission with optimized network operations in Futuristic Mobile Adhoc Networks

The Mobile Ad-Hoc Network (MANET) incorporates a collaborative networking scenario, where dynamic host movement results in frequent topology changes. In MANET, nodes cooperate during route establishment, and the data packet must travel from source to destination through multi-hop intermediate links. The nodes in a MANET can be localized in a restricted zone, where manual intervention to set-up fixed infrastructural support is practically infeasible. However, cooperative packet forwarding and data transmission is quite a common scenario in the context of MANET. Still, due to dynamic topological changes, weak, intermittent links appear within one-hop communication. This leads to a higher possibility of packet drop events and also increases the retransmission scenario, which affects the energy performance of the network. Addressing this issue, the study models a novel and intelligent packet forwarding approach based on the game theory, where trust evaluation in terms of node reputation factor also plays a very vital role. The approach also enforces an incentive modelling to stimulate the cooperation between mobile nodes during the MANET routing scenario. The system is designed and developed with evolutionary game perspectives to meet the Quality of Services (QoS) requirements. The experimental analysis supports the proposed modelling design aspects. Also, it exhibits that the reputation and trust-based game increases the utility of packet-forwarding strategy with high throughput and negligible network overhead.