A unified algorithm for wireless MAC protocols

Being confronted with numerous MAC protocols designed under a variety of networking considerations, we envision a softwared-defined MAC controller that can be "re-configured" to different MAC protocols. This paper presents a unified algorithm for wireless MAC protocols, a pioneer trial of this vision that benefits future wireless networks. This unified algorithm is based on the concept of MULCAR, a generalized model for MAC protocols proposed by Chen and Sun. We oberved that most protocols operate in a cycling fashion and identified major differences between each algorithm. Combined this with the concept of MULCAR, we unified several representative wireless MAC protocols into one parameterized algorithm. Among them are ALOHA with geometric backoff; binary exponential backoff; and Q-ary collision resolution algorithm, p-persistent CSMA, CSMA/CA and CRAP. One can thus have the unified algorithm operate as different MAC algorithms with proper paremter setting, which enables the development of the software-defined MAC controller.