Multi-channel operations, coexistence, and spectrum sharing for vehicular communications

Abstract

With recent advancements in wireless communications, new computer networking research topics have sprung up to provide data network access to regions where wired solutions are impractical or impossible to implement. Vehicle traffic is receiving more academic and industry attention as a result of the sheer variety and significance of related applications, which include everything from road safety to traffic control to mobile entertainment. Autonomous Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) are self-organizing networks made up of autos that are on the go (mobile ad hoc networks). Specialized networking solutions must be designed and tested using computer simulations to determine whether or not they are feasible for the creation of VANETs. It is extremely difficult to create realistic non-uniform vehicle and velocity distributions and unique connection dynamics in VANET simulations, which pose substantial obstacles. However, although the efficient use of other service channels has gotten less attention, resource allocations for safety-related applications on the common control channel have attracted a great deal of attention. Platooning of trucks, autonomous driving, and other intelligent transportation system (ITS) safety applications are all expected to exist side by side with non-ITS mobility technologies in the future, necessitating the usage of various communication channels and sharing of the ITS spectrum. Through the redirection of traffic to alternate paths, multi-channel operations seek to reduce the communication stress placed on individual channels and networks. It is discussed here how ITS legislation and procedures in the United States and Europe deal with coexistence and multi-channel communication. ITS frequency allocations and access restrictions are discussed first, followed by explanations of the protocols that are currently available in standards and research and development.