Cooperative Downloading in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks: A Cost-Energy Perspective

Cooperative downloading in mobile ad hoc networks is an effective way to improve the efficiency of downloading files. This work addresses the problem while distributing content to a group of mobile terminals (MTs) that cooperate during the download process by forming mobile ad hoc networks. However, the efficiency, cost, and energy consumption of cooperative downloading are sensitive by content distribution, which is a challenge to get the optimal in mobile ad hoc networks. This paper proposes a cost distribution (OCD) algorithm and a content distribution algorithm based on auction (OCDA) for mobile ad hoc networks based on relative location of nodes and local optimization theory. In order to make cooperative users take part when the downloading is beginning, several rounds of content distribution approach are designed based on users' relative location in the cooperative ad hoc network. To satisfy users' personal demands, the paper also designs a local optimization mechanism based on cost and energy. The simulation results show that the cost and content distribution method can achieve better performance, higher downloading efficiency, and lower energy consumption than the self-organized market algorithm (SOMA) and the average distribution algorithm (ADA).