Evaluating the impact of aggregation and RTS/CTS schemes on IEEE 802.11 based Linear Wireless Ad‐Hoc Networks

Abstract

AbstractThe Linear Wireless Ad‐Hoc Network (Linear WANET), as a branch of the Ad‐Hoc network, refers to a self‐organizing multi‐hop wireless network in which nodes are arranged linearly. Frame aggregation and RTS/CTS schemes are introduced in IEEE 802.11 aims to improve network transmission performance. However, the traditional mechanisms may not have good adaptability in linear multi‐hop networks. Thus, we defined a Linear WANET simulation model based on the IEEE 802.11 protocol. We established this model on the NS‐3 network simulator to perform A‐MSDU, A‐MPDU, and two‐level frame aggregation simulation and analyzed the aggregation performance under different channel environments. Meanwhile, the RTS/CTS and TXOP mechanisms were also simulated in this article. We analyzed the performance of each mechanism in a Linear WANET under saturated and unsaturated environments. We found that the linear multi‐hop characteristic has a significant impact on the performance of the frame aggregation mechanism. In the Linear WANET, the A‐MSDU mechanism can improve system performance to a limited extent, but at the same time, it will increase the packet loss rate and delay. So, the two‐level aggregation can improve the maximum throughput of the system with better channel conditions. In the case of single A‐MPDU aggregation, there has a lowest data delivery interval that the Linear WANET system can withstand. The A‐MPDU mechanism is a better choice for the poor channel conditions with unsaturated system throughput. Meanwhile, we also found that the native TXOP mechanism cannot effectively improve the system efficiency of Linear WANET. The RTS/CTS mechanism can enhance system throughput performance in most cases, especially in a saturated throughput environment.