Wireless LANs: an adaptive algorithm to reduce power consumption

A novel radio modem architecture is proposed for a single-hop ad hoc networks (WLAN) providing wireless access to Internet. The system works at 17 GHz, employs OFDM modulation and provides very high bit rate (up to 160 Mbit/s at physical layer) using TDMA access scheme. Network control is centralized and handled by a device (master), which is run-time selected among all the active devices (slaves). The main focus of the paper is to address the power consumption issue, which is a crucial requirement for portable devices. In particular, the paper described the developed MAC procedures and algorithms concerning the interface with physical layer. Simulation trials show that a considerable power saving can be attained without decreasing system performance.