Analyzing the capacity of wireless ad hoc networks

The total amount of capacity that can be obtained from a network is an essential performance metric. However, in wireless ad hoc networks, the dynamic topology and stochastic variations in channel characteristics, makes it difficult to analytically determine this metric. In this paper we develop analytical closed form expression for the network capacity. First the cumulative distribution function (CDF) of the signal to interference power ratio (SIR) at each receiver is derived analytically. Then, the capacity of the network is studied and closed form expressions are determined. Also by examining the effect of the outage threshold, beta, it is shown that, less simultaneous communications, each with a higher rate can result in higher total capacity.