ad-hoc on-demand distance vector (ad-hoc network) (AODV)

Ad hoc networks are networks that are self-organized, Self Organized Networks( SON), which are established only for the communication period. They are mostly wireless networks that have no fixed hierarchy and no communication structure. Routing through ad-hoc networks is controlled by an ad-hoc algorithm called Ad-hoc On-demand Distance Vector (AODV).

As can be seen from the name Ad-hoc On-demand Distance Vector (AODV), a distance vector algorithm is generated on demand ad-hoc - meaning for that moment - to determine the route between the sending and receiving stations. Once the route is created, the AODV protocol is relatively inactive. The AODV protocol works with routing tables. Each network node maintains its routing table with the IP addresses of the neighboring nodes, the sequence numbers of the destination stations, and the number of hops required to reach the destination stations.

For routing with the AODV protocol, there are several status messages for requesting a route, the Route Request, replying, the Route Replies, and an error message Route Error. With undisturbed operation and installed transmission path the AODV protocol is not active.