A Cross-Layer-Based Topology Control Framework for Wireless Multihop Networks

In this paper, we propose a distributed and asynchronous topology control framework for wireless multihop networks, aiming at improving the quality-of-service capabilities of such systems. The proposed mechanisms exploit cross-layer information such as physical-layer signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) values and medium-access-control (MAC)/network-layer connectivity to effectively allocate resources. Based on properly defined utility functions, we cast the transmission power allocation problem as a noncooperative game and then show that it belongs to the class of potential games. We obtain structural properties of the defined game and its variations and demonstrate their effectiveness. Through analysis and simulation, we explore the behavior of the proposed framework and compare it with the most relevant approach in the literature. It is shown that the proposed unifying game-theoretic framework achieves three key goals for multihop ad hoc networks, i.e., reduced transmission power, high-quality links, and connectivity maintenance.