Cooperative and Adaptive Medium Access Control in Multi-hop Wireless Networks

Authors

Zhiwen Wan, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Dissertation

Major/Program

Electrical Engineering

First Advisor's Name

Kia Makki

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Co-Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Hao Zhu

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Co-Chair

Third Advisor's Name

Shih-Ming Lee

Fourth Advisor's Name

Niki Pissinou

Date of Defense

11-3-2008

Abstract

Due to low cost and easy deployment, multi-hop wireless networks become a very attractive communication paradigm. However, IEEE 802.11 medium access control (MAC) protocol widely used in wireless LANs was not designed for multi-hop wireless networks. Although it can support some kinds of ad hoc network architecture, it does not function efficiently in those wireless networks with multi-hop connectivity. Therefore, our research is focused on studying the medium access control in multi-hop wireless networks. The objective is to design practical MAC layer protocols for supporting multihop wireless networks. Particularly, we try to prolong the network lifetime without degrading performances with small battery-powered devices and improve the system throughput with poor quality channels. In this dissertation, we design two MAC protocols. The first one is aimed at minimizing energy-consumption without deteriorating communication activities, which provides energy efficiency, latency guarantee, adaptability and scalability in one type of multi-hop wireless networks (i.e. wireless sensor network). Methodologically, inspired by the phase transition phenomena in distributed networks, we define the wake-up probability, which maintained by each node. By using this probability, we can control the number of wireless connectivity within a local area. More specifically, we can adaptively adjust the wake-up probability based on the local network conditions to reduce energy consumption without increasing transmission latency. The second one is a cooperative MAC layer protocol for multi-hop wireless networks, which leverages multi-rate capability by cooperative transmission among multiple neighboring nodes. Moreover, for bidirectional traffic, the network throughput can be further increased by using the network coding technique. It is a very helpful complement for current rate-adaptive MAC protocols under the poor channel conditions of direct link. Finally, we give an analytical model to analyze impacts of cooperative node on the system throughput.

Identifier

FI10022557

Recommended Citation

Wan, Zhiwen, "Cooperative and Adaptive Medium Access Control in Multi-hop Wireless Networks" (2008). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 272.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/272