Power-rate adaptation in high-mobility distributed ad-hoc wireless networks

In this work we address the power-rate adaptation issue for wireless ad-hoc networks under the assumption of high mobility. First, we describe our concept based on the trade off between power-modulation used and interference generated. Our simple, yet significant, analytical investigation suggests to us to consider the packet length in the adaptation algorithm. The power-rate control algorithm we implement is based on the number of neighbors possibly interfered (retrieved by beaconing messages) and on the size of the transmitted packet. A pricing function, that weights the interference generated both in the time and space domain by the transmitting node, is used to establish power and modulation to use on a per-packet basis. We test the algorithm with an 802.11a-based simulator: our inter-vehicle communication scenario provides the high mobility condition. The results show substantial improvements on the packet delivery ratio when compared to the most robust transmission mode offered by the protocol (lowest data rate and maximum power).