An Algorithm for Detection of Selfish Nodes in Wireless Mesh Networks

Abstract: Wireless mesh networks (WMNs) are evolving as a key technology for next-generation wireless networks showing raid progress and numerous applications. These networks have the potential to provide robust and high-throughput data delivery to wireless users. In a WMN, high speed routers equipped with advanced antennas, communicate with each other in a multi-hop fashion over wireless channels and form a broadband backhaul. However, the throughput of a WMN may be severely degraded due to presence of some selfish routers that avoid forwarding packets for other nodes even as they send their own traffic through the network. This paper presents an algorithm for detection of selfish nodes in a WMN. It uses statistical theory of inference for reliable clustering of the nodes and is based on local observations by the nodes. Simulation results show that the algorithm has a high detection rate while having a low rate of false positives.