An Optimized Clustering-Based Contention-Free MAC Protocol for Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks

An Optimized Clustering-Based Contention-Free MAC Protocol for Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article An Optimized Clustering-Based Contention-Free MAC Protocol for Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks Nyi Nyi Linn This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8952564/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)-based Medium Access Control (MAC) protocols are widely regarded as a pivotal solution for enhancing road safety through reliable broadcast services in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs). Within centralized architectures, ensuring cluster stability remains a paramount challenge for protocol efficacy. While a recent Cluster-based Contention-free MAC (CC-MAC) protocol was proposed to mitigate intra- and inter-cluster transmission collisions, its performance is inherently sensitive to the underlying assumptions of radio propagation and vehicle mobility. This paper addresses these limitations by proposing an Optimized Clustering-based Contention-free MAC (OCC-MAC) protocol. The primary contribution is the development of a robust and well-balanced clustering framework designed for highly dynamic vehicular environments. First, we integrate realistic vehicular mobility and Nakagami-m fading channel models to accurately reflect the physical layer dynamics of VANET communications. Second, we introduce a novel metaheuristic clustering optimization algorithm, which employs an encirclement marching strategy for Cluster Head (CH) selection. This approach incorporates efficient CH dissolution and cluster merging mechanisms to minimize unnecessary re-affiliations and significantly enhance overall cluster stability. The protocol is rigorously evaluated through simulations conducted on real-world road maps, incorporating pragmatic vehicular traffic scenarios and channel characteristics. Comparative simulation results for both highway and urban traffic scenarios demonstrate that the proposed OCC-MAC protocol outperforms existing benchmarks, achieving superior normalized throughput, packet delivery ratio, access delay, end-to-end delay, and collision rate. Systems and Networking Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) Medium Access Control (MAC) Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) Optimized Clustering Cluster-based MAC (CC-MAC) Cluster Stability Metaheuristic Optimization Cluster Head Selection Nakagami-m Fading Realistic Mobility Packet Delivery Ratio End-to-End Delay Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8952564","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":596023605,"identity":"58c15877-f96e-49f4-ae57-004cb8db0b6d","order_by":0,"name":"Nyi Nyi Linn","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAzUlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFACxgYGBgObBAiHjXgtaSRpAYPDJGgxl0hue8xTcD7P4PjhBwwfyg4z8M9uwK/FckZiuzGPwe1igzNpBowzzh1mkLhzAL8WgxuJbdJALYkbDiQYMPO2HWYwkEggSsu5xA3nn39g/kuClgOJG27kGDAzEqXlzMM2yTkGycWSN94UHOw5l84jcYOQluPpzyTe/LHL4zufvvHBjzJrOf4ZBLQwCCQwMPFA2QeAmAePWijgP8DA+IOwslEwCkbBKBjJAABw7EdOSIYfTAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2901-4054","institution":"Beihang University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Nyi","middleName":"Nyi","lastName":"Linn","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-02-24 04:34:03","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":false,"vertebrateSubjects":false,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false,"humanSubjectConsent":false,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8952564/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8952564/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":103373441,"identity":"5877d0ad-b34c-43cf-93d0-b657672bac95","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-25 03:03:29","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":725090,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"AnOptimizedClusteringBasedContentionFreeMACProtocolforVANETs.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8952564/v1_covered_3e23e874-8fcc-4bec-90b3-d1a41ed11db3.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eAn Optimized Clustering-Based Contention-Free MAC Protocol for Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks \u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"Beihang University","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs), Medium Access Control (MAC), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Optimized Clustering, Cluster-based MAC (CC-MAC), Cluster Stability, Metaheuristic Optimization, Cluster Head Selection, Nakagami-m Fading, Realistic Mobility, Packet Delivery Ratio, End-to-End Delay","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8952564/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8952564/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eTime Division Multiple Access (TDMA)-based Medium Access Control (MAC) protocols are widely regarded as a pivotal solution for enhancing road safety through reliable broadcast services in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs). Within centralized architectures, ensuring cluster stability remains a paramount challenge for protocol efficacy. While a recent Cluster-based Contention-free MAC (CC-MAC) protocol was proposed to mitigate intra- and inter-cluster transmission collisions, its performance is inherently sensitive to the underlying assumptions of radio propagation and vehicle mobility. This paper addresses these limitations by proposing an Optimized Clustering-based Contention-free MAC (OCC-MAC) protocol. The primary contribution is the development of a robust and well-balanced clustering framework designed for highly dynamic vehicular environments. First, we integrate realistic vehicular mobility and Nakagami-m fading channel models to accurately reflect the physical layer dynamics of VANET communications. Second, we introduce a novel metaheuristic clustering optimization algorithm, which employs an encirclement marching strategy for Cluster Head (CH) selection. This approach incorporates efficient CH dissolution and cluster merging mechanisms to minimize unnecessary re-affiliations and significantly enhance overall cluster stability. The protocol is rigorously evaluated through simulations conducted on real-world road maps, incorporating pragmatic vehicular traffic scenarios and channel characteristics. 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