Modeling Architecture for DTDMA Channel Access Protocol for Mobile Network Nodes using Directional Antennas

This paper discusses the combination of a Directional Time Division Multiple Access (DTDMA) scheme implemented in a tactical radio with a directional antenna environment modeled within an OPNET simulated network to increase the throughput for network communications in a wireless environment. A technique of allowing multiple communiations pairs to transmit simultaneous during a single timeslot is a key component of the High-band Network Waveform (HNW). We have implemented a high-fidelity data link layer and physical layer model of this implementation. Along with the DTDMA and directional antenna techniques, the model allows node communication pairs to dynamically adjust their data rates based on signal quality to provide the maximum throughput efficiency along a data link. This waveform model also allows allocation of link capacity as needed on each link to provide bandwidth on demand (BOD). The discussion covers the expected benefits and the implementation as modeled in OPNET.