Analysis of a network coding-aware MAC protocol for IEEE 802.11 wireless networks with Reverse Direction transmissions

Abstract

The implementation of Network Coding (NC) in IEEE 802.11-based wireless networks presents the important challenge of providing additional transmission priority for the relay nodes responsible for coding. These nodes are able to convey more information in each transmission than those that forward single packets, by combining several received packets in a single coded packet. To transmit data, the nodes execute the IEEE 802.11 Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol, called the Distributed Coordination Function (DCF). Thus, they compete for the access to the wireless channel and get equal transmission opportunities under high congestion. As a result, congested relay nodes will severely limit the performance of the network. In this paper, we investigate a backwards-compatible mechanism, called Reverse Direction DCF (RD-DCF), that allows relay nodes to transmit data upon successful reception of data. We analyze the performance limits of the proposed protocol with and without NC in terms of throughput and energy efficiency. The performance evaluation considers different traffic loads, packet lengths, and data rates. The results of this work show that the proposed RD-DCF+NC protocol can improve throughput and energy efficiency up to 335% when compared to legacy DCF.

Network Coding and Duty Cycling in IEEE 802.11 Wireless Networks with Bidirectional Transmissions and Sleeping Periods

“…For this reason, GreenCode has not been compared to DutyCode. In addition, the integration of reactive RD coded data transmissions into the operation of GreenCode to facilitate the sleep operation can further increase the energy efficiency, as shown in [8], [9]. The results presented in this paper show that GreenCode can increase the energy efficiency by up to 360% and 130% when compared to legacy mechanisms alone and combined with NC, respectively.…”

“…2) Integrating RD Transmissions: GreenCode integrates a variation of the IEEE 802.11n RDP to be used in conjunction with NC, presented and evaluated in [8], [9], to facilitate the TXOP PSM execution. This mechanism allows the receiver of a valid data packet to reserve the wireless channel for an RD transmission (as an implicit ACK) by extending the transmitter's TXOP time, without contending for channel access.…”

Network Coding and Duty Cycling in IEEE 802.11 Wireless Networks with Bidirectional Transmissions and Sleeping Periods

“…In addition, and for the purpose of comparison, the performance of GreenCode has been compared to those of the DCF and DCF with NC, referred to as DCF+NC hereafter. The performance results of these protocols have been presented in our previous works [8], [9].…”

Reverse direction transmissions and network coding for energy-efficient Wi-Fi networks

“…In [11], we analyzed the upper bounds of BidCode throughput and energy efficiency in both the Alice and Bob and cross scenarios and produced performance evaluation using numerical results only.…”