A multiple channel access protocol for ad hoc wireless networks

Abstract

We propose a new multiple channel access protocol to enhance the channel utilization and minimize the connection breakage probability in ad hoc wireless networks. In ad hoc networks with multiple channels, communication between a pair of hosts can directly be established using one of available channels. However, hosts' mobility or using channel by neighbors may cause a co-channel interference problem or the connection breakage. To solving these problems, the proposed protocol establishes the new connection using a channel exchange mechanism, which exchanges its available channel with the current channel of the neighboring host without co-channel interference. In addition, it efficiently maintains the current connection of the communicating hosts from co-channel interference caused by hosts' mobility. We evaluate the performance of the proposed protocol using simulation. Simulation results indicate that the proposed protocol may offer performance better than the conventional protocol in terms of the channel utilization and the connection breakage probability. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.