Constructing efficient multi-hop mesh networks

Abstract

The wireless channel-oriented ad-hoc multi-hop broadband (W-CHAMB) is a new link layer protocol with the aim of being able to support quality of service (QoS) in multi-hop operation in fully distributed ad hoc networks. It is based on time division multiple access (TDMA) technology, operating on a single frequency channel. In this paper, we improve the prioritized access mechanism by inserting the contention phase (CP) into the access slot. Then we propose 3 new algorithms to enhance the traffic performance in the multi-hop environment: on demand time division duplex (on-demand-TDD) for achieving high channel utilization; fairness algorithm (FA) for acquiring the fairness even in a highly interfered multi-hop network; setting valid transmission time (VTT) for each traffic channel to prevent an excessive use of the traffic channel. The extensive simulations are performed by evaluating transmission control protocol (TCP) performance over W-CHAMB multi-hop networks under heavy load situations. The achievable TCP throughput, packet delay, fairness and stability have been investigated. Results exhibit the outstanding multi-hop performance of the W-CHAMB protocol