Evaluation of a Novel Low Complexity Smart Antenna for Wireless LAN Systems

Author

Harrold, T.J. ; Kemp, D.C. ; Beach, M.A. ; Williams, C. ; Philippakis, M. ; Shelley, M.W.

Author_Institution

Centre for Commun. Res., Bristol Univ., Bristol

fYear

2006

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

5

Abstract

A novel smart antenna is described, which is conceived as a low complexity inexpensive upgrade for IEEE 802.11b/g wireless local area network (WLAN) systems. Using smart antennas to increase network throughput by improved spatial reuse is not normally possible for systems using the 802.11 medium access control (MAC), unless centralised channel access control is enforced. However, it is shown through simulation that the proposed antenna can have sufficient beam and null steering capabilities to allow two 802.11g transmissions to co-exist in close proximity. This is achieved with the standard distributed channel access algorithms and therefore has potential to increase system capacity. Accuracy in simulation is ensured through a combination of MAC functionality modelling using OPNET and 3 dimensional (3D) propagation modelling using ray tracing.

Keywords

access protocols; adaptive antenna arrays; beam steering; ray tracing; wireless LAN; 3D propagation modelling; IEEE 802.11b/g wireless LAN; OPNET; beam steering; centralised channel access control; low complexity smart antenna; medium access control; network throughput; null steering; ray tracing; Access control; Access protocols; Antennas and propagation; Frequency; Media Access Protocol; Receiving antennas; Switches; Throughput; Transmitting antennas; Wireless LAN;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Vehicular Technology Conference, 2006. VTC-2006 Fall. 2006 IEEE 64th

Conference_Location

Montreal, Que.

Print_ISBN

1-4244-0062-7

Electronic_ISBN

1-4244-0063-5

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/VTCF.2006.152

Filename

4109417