A multi-channel MAC protocol with snooping for multi-hop wireless nmetworks

Multi-channel MAC protocols are proposed to increase the capacity of wireless network. However, dynamic channel selection mechanism based on channel usage information from one-hop neighbor nodes causes multi-channel hidden node problems in a multi-channel multi-hop wireless network. In this paper, we propose a new approach of channel selection. Nodes snoop data channels during idle times and then select an idle data channel within the carrier sensing range by using both the snooping results and the channel usage information. Our simulation results verify that the proposed channel selection approach can effectively avoid the multi-channel hidden node problem and improve the networkwide performance.