An Optimized Cross-Layer Communication Framework for IoT Networks

Abstract

The rapid proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices has intensified the demand for efficient, reliable, and energy-aware communication architectures. Conventional layered network models often fail to address the heterogeneous requirements of IoT environments due to limited interactions among protocol layers. This paper presents an optimized cross-layer communication framework that jointly coordinates the physical, medium access control, network, and application layers to enhance network performance and resource utilization. The proposed framework integrates adaptive transmission power control, energy-aware routing, congestion-aware packet scheduling, and quality-of-service (QoS) optimization mechanisms. A dynamic cross-layer information exchange module enables real-time adaptation to changing network conditions, thereby reducing packet loss, end-to-end delay, and energy consumption while improving throughput and reliability. Simulation-based evaluation demonstrates that the proposed framework achieves significant performance gains compared with traditional layered approaches, including improved packet delivery ratio, lower communication overhead, and prolonged network lifetime. The framework is particularly suitable for smart city, healthcare, industrial automation, and environmental monitoring applications, where scalable and efficient communication is critical. The findings highlight the importance of holistic protocol coordination in realizing next-generation IoT ecosystems.