A novel routing method in hybrid DTN–MANET networks in the critical situations

Maintaining desirable connections in discrete mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) is complicated in critical situations. MANETs are often integrated with delay-tolerant networks (viz. DTNs) to achieve an optimal routing method for efficient information distribution. Since it is essential to minimize the message delivery delay rate in critical situations, this study reflects on some parameters to reduce delivery time and increase the message delivery ratio in MANET–DTN routing. Utilizing proper parameters can thus help choose a suitable relay node in the proposed routing method. Selecting a good relay is also performed based on the latest information regarding the current speed changes, the movement direction of the nodes, buffer’s free space, estimated delay, and prior knowledge of sending messages. The routing method employs a simulated annealing algorithm to optimize sending messages in the network. Besides, typical performance benchmarks, such as delivery ratio, average delivery delay, overhead, and dropped messages number, are recruited to investigate the model performance. It is concluded that the suggested routing method has better efficiency than other MANET–DTN routing protocols.