A Link-Directionality-Based Dual Channel MAC Protocol with a Power Exchange Algorithm for IEEE 802.11 Ad-Hoc Networks

When an IEEE 802.11 ad-hoc network achieves capacity C by using a single channel, the targeted capacity by using two channels should be _2middotC. However, most or the multi-channel 802.11 protocols proposed in the literature only appear to be able to achieve less than 60% or the 2middotC targeted capacity. In our paper (2006), we proposed a link-directionality-based dual channel MAC protocol (DCP) to boost the network capacities up to 78% of our targeted capacities, 78%*2middotC = 1.56middotC. However, DCP still failed to reach the 2middotC capacity target due to the overheads incurred by the protocol. In this paper, we implement a power exchange algorithm on top of the DCP in an attempt to double the capacities of networks using the single-channel 802.11 protocol. This algorithm incurs relatively small overheads and can further release the protocol constraints imposed by DCP. Simulations show that the proposed scheme (DCPwPEA) can achieve more than 132% of our targeted capacities, 132%* 2middotC = 2.64middotC. We believe this protocol can be extended to allow multi-link simultaneous transmissions which can multiply the network capacities of ad-hoc networks by using only two channels