Effect of relay nodes and transmit power on end-to-end delay in multi-hop wireless ad hoc networks

Channel access delay in a wireless multi-hop ad hoc network is the major source of delay while considering end-to-end delay. In this work, end-to-end delay is analysed considering silent relay nodes and effect of network parameters like node density and throughput. Given network parameter requirements and bound on end-to-end delay, optimal ranges of transmission radius and channel access probability can be obtained from the proposed analysis. Effect of silent relay nodes must be considered to maintain quality of service (QoS) metrics. Transmission power adaptability to reduce end-to-end delay is analysed considering the interference model. Increase in transmission power is not reducing end-to-end delay linearly. Simulation results show that increase in end-to-end delay due to channel access probability and throughput is considerably higher than node density. Also given the network parameters, end-to-end delay can be minimised only up to certain value irrespective of increase in transmit power.