MAC Design in Pulse-Based Communication Systems

Pulse-based communication systems are a promising candidate in the deployment of future wireless networks, thanks to the potential robustness and capacity guaranteed by the transmission of pulses of very short duration. In the framework of pulse-based communication systems, the Impulse Radio-Ultra Wide Band (IR-UWB) technique recently received particular attention. In the past, most of the UWB research focused on hardware and physical layer aspects in order to solve the technological challenges posed by IR-UWB. UWB peculiar characteristics may, however, also stimulate innovative higher layers´ design. This work addresses Medium Access Control (MAC) issues for IR-UWB communication systems and extends the discussion to wireless optical communication systems. Typical characteristics of an IR-UWB system are presented, and solutions proposed for such systems at the MAC layer are reviewed. The applicability of such solutions to an optical wireless communications system is then discussed, highlighting analogies and differences between IR-UWB and wireless optical systems.