A context-aware MAC protocol in VANET based on Bayesian Networks

In Vehicular Ad hoc Network (VANET), Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA) mechanism adopted in IEEE 802.11p/WAVE has some drawbacks in latency and delivery ratio when disseminating safety messages periodically. In this paper, a novel context-aware MAC protocol in VANET based on Bayesian Networks (BN) is proposed to improve network performance of high load. BN is introduced to process incomplete, inaccurate and uncertain context information in view of the high dynamic of VANET and vagueness of acquiring context information system. The Contention Window (CW) is adaptively adjusted based on the network communication status inferred from BN. Simulation results demonstrate that compared to IEEE 802.11p/WAVE algorithm, the novel algorithm offers a better delivery ratio and medium access delay.