STEPS - Score Table based Evaluation and Parameters Surfing approach of LoRaWAN

Abstract

LoRaWAN (LOng RAnge radio Wide Area Network) belongs to the LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) category, it aims to provide a wide area, long range and low power consumption communication network solution. However, with the large number of connected devices to the base-station and a pure Aloha MAC protocol, the packet lost and collisions become an important issue in the network related to the transmission parameters of the devices. For this issue, STEPS is proposed in this study. The goal of the proposed method is to establish a score table based evaluation and parameters surfing approach. STEPS provides an approach of evaluating and changing the parameters based on probability and score table when transmission failure appears. It can also update the table while transmitting. STEPS is compatible with pure Aloha, and doesn't need any change on the MAC protocol and is easy to be implemented. In this study, the spreading factor is chosen as the parameter to establish the table, that will be evaluated and to be surfed. Simulation results show that STEPS provides a remarkable improvement on bi-directional transmission of the packet and a capability of decreasing the packet lost and collisions even with higher data rate than classical LoRaWAN scenario.