Distributed channel selection for ad-hoc networks in the presence of jamming sources

Abstract

We introduce a distributed scheme for the joint selection of a control (default) channel in an ad-hoc network, which could be subject to jamming and/or significant interference. The presented scheme enables nodes to independently agree on the appropriate channel for exchanging control packets required for networking protocols. If jamming is considered, the network can no longer rely on a predefined default channel. However, developing distributed protocols for adaptive default channel selection remains a difficult challenge as the restriction to local information exchange is in conflict with the need to coordinate on a channel. In our protocol, each node alternates between a channel probing-andselection state and a normal operation state. This protocol endows the network with the ability to self-reconfigure once jamming is detected. Experimental results indicate that the proposed scheme induce stable channel selections that result in satisfactory network connectivity and fast recovery. ©2010 ICST Institute for Computer Sciences, Social-Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering.