Reliability Analysis of Mobile Ad Hoc Networks Using Universal Generating Function

The proliferation of the wireless network over the last decade is one of the significant drivers for the increased deployment of mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) in the battle field. It is not practically possible to build a fixed wired network infrastructure in battle field. But it is possible to create a mobile wireless network infrastructure because of the mobility of the soldiers. MANET is justified by the possibility of building a network where no infrastructure exists. MANET with group communication applications and multicasting can highly benefit from a networking environment such as military and emergency uses. In such applications, the used ad hoc networks need to be reliable and secure. In recent years, a specific technique called the universal generating function technique (UGFT) has been applied to determine the network reliability. The UGFT is based on an approach that is closely connected to generating functions that are widely used in probability theory. This work devotes to assess the MANET reliability using the UGFT. Reliability of the MANET is defined as the probability that the transformed message from the source can be passed successfully through the MANET and reached the target without any delay. Two kinds of UGFs are discussed in this work, and an algorithm has been proposed to execute the system reliability. This UGFT is illustrated with a case study in a battlefield environment. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.