Interferer Aware Multiple Access Protocol for Power-Line Communication Networks

Abstract

Hidden station problem can occur in power-line communication (PLC) networks. A simple solution to the problem has been proposed to use request-to-send (RTS)/clear-to-send (CTS) exchange, but this approach cannot solve the hidden station problem perfectly. This paper revisits the problem for PLC networks and designs a protocol to solve it. We first analyze the throughput performance degradation when the hidden station problem occurs in PLC networks. Then, we propose an interferer aware multiple access (IAMA) protocol to enhance throughput and fairness performances, which uses unique characteristics of PLC networks. Using the RTS/CTS exchange adaptively, the IAMA protocol protects receiving stations from being interfered with neighboring networks. Through extensive simulations, we show that our proposed protocol outperforms conventional random access protocols in terms of throughput and fairness.