Research Article

Analytical modeling of bidirectional multi-channel IEEE 802.11 MAC protocols

  1. Vandana Gupta1,
  2. Mingwei Gong2,
  3. S. Dharmaraja1,*,
  4. Carey Williamson3

Article first published online: 7 OCT 2010

DOI: 10.1002/dac.1183

Issue

International Journal of Communication Systems

International Journal of Communication Systems

Volume 24, Issue 5, pages 647–665, May 2011

Additional Information

How to Cite

Gupta, V., Gong, M., Dharmaraja, S. and Williamson, C. (2011), Analytical modeling of bidirectional multi-channel IEEE 802.11 MAC protocols. Int. J. Commun. Syst., 24: 647–665. doi: 10.1002/dac.1183

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Mathematics, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India

  2. 2

    Department of Computer Science and Information Systems, Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB, Canada

  3. 3

    Department of Computer Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

*Department of Mathematics, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 24 APR 2011
  2. Article first published online: 7 OCT 2010
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 11 AUG 2010
  4. Manuscript Revised: 23 MAY 2010
  5. Manuscript Received: 15 NOV 2009

Funded by

  • Publishing Arts Research Council. Grant Number: 98-1846389
  • Department of Science and Technology, India. Grant Number: RP 01907
  • iCORE (Informatics Circle of Research Excellence)

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Keywords:

  • IEEE 802.11 MAC protocols;
  • wireless ad hoc networks;
  • stochastic reward net;
  • M/G/1 queue;
  • throughput;
  • delay

Abstract

This paper presents an analytical approach to model the bi-directional multi-channel IEEE 802.11 MAC protocols (Bi-MCMAC) for ad hoc networks. Extensive simulation work has been done for the performance evaluation of IEEE 802.11 MAC protocols. Since simulation has several limitations, this work is primarily based on the analytical approach. The objective of this paper is to show analytically the performance advantages of Bi-MCMAC protocol over the classical IEEE 802.11 MAC protocol. The distributed coordination function (DCF) mode of medium access control (MAC) is considered in the modeling. Two different channel scheduling strategies, namely, random channel selection and fastest channel first selection strategy are also presented in the presence of multiple channels with different transmission rates. M/G/1 queue is used to model the protocols, and stochastic reward nets (SRNs) are employed as a modeling technique as it readily captures the synchronization between events in the DCF mode of access. The average system throughput, mean delay, and server utilization of each MAC protocol are evaluated using the SRN formalism. We also validate our analytical model by comparison with simulation results. The results obtained through the analytical modeling approach illustrate the performance advantages of Bi-MCMAC protocols with the fastest channel first scheduling strategy over the classical IEEE 802.11 protocol for TCP traffic in wireless ad hoc networks. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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