A multi-channel protocol with QoS provision in Ad Hoc network

Since the packages from different nodes collide with each other frequently in Ad Hoc networks, it is hard to guarantee QoS of Real-Time multimedia services if only adopting traditional multi-channel MAC protocols such as DCA, MMAC, etc. In this paper, a new multi-channel MAC technology called MAC-MC is proposed. Under MAC-MC protocol, the wireless channel is divided into one control sub-channel and N service sub-channels. The nodes in Ad Hoc network exchange RTS/CTS messages in the control sub-channel to reserve the service sub-channel for dada package. The access mechanism in the control sub-channel is designed basing on DIFFSERV mode. The parameters value of the Real-Time service package CW is different to that of Best-Effort service packages, so that the Real-Time service packages can obtain the higher priority to access the control sub-channel. In addition, a bi-dimension Markov mode is presented to analyze the performances of MAC-MC protocol theoretically. The results via simulation show that: Compared with MMAC protocol, the transfer delay of Real-Time service package is decreased greatly under the MACMC protocol; the networks throughput under MAC-MC protocols is larger than the networks throughput under IEEE 802.11 EDCF protocols.