MAC Layer Optimization for Millimeter-Wave Wireless Networks

Abstract

The unlicensed 7 GHz frequency band centered at 60 GHz, commonly known as the millimeter wave (mmW) band, caught the research and industry attention as a possible candidate to extend the usable spectrum especially after the recent success in fabricating cheap mmW transceivers. The purpose of this study is to enhance the throughput of Multi-hop wireless networks with directional links that operates in mm-Wave range. Mm-W has different propagation characteristics than waves in lower frequency bands, like: Blockage and Deafness. Researcher believes that these different characteristics require a change for MAC layer protocols to be able to deliver a sub-optimal data transfer throughput. Basically this research targets the scheduling algorithm of the MAC layer. Researcher suggests two scheduling techniques. The First scheduling technique is inspired by block acknowledgments concept introduced early in WIFI. Simulation shows throughput gain of 70%. Such technique is valid for high signal to noise environments. But For low signal to noise ration environment the second scheduling technique will be more convenient as it depends on iterative method to reach better schedule in step by step manner. It starts with random schedule then make many enhancements for it to reach sub optimal schedule. Chapter 1