A Model-based Rate Separation Algorithm Using Multiple Channels in Multi-Radio Ad Hoc Networks

IEEE 802.11 PHY and MAC layer provide multiple channels and data rates. To improve the performance of IEEE 802.11 multi-radio ad hoc networks, it is required to utilize available channels and data rates efficiently. However, in IEEE 802.11 multi-rate networks, the rate anomaly (RA) problem occurs that the network performance is severely degraded as low-rate links affect high-rate links. Hence, in this paper, we propose a model-based rate separation (MRS) algorithm that uses multiple channels to separate different data rate links so that the RA problem is mitigated. MRS algorithm utilizes an existing throughput model that estimates the throughput of IEEE 802.11 single-hop networks to separate low-rate links and high-rate links. Through simulations, we demonstrate that the MRS algorithm shows improved network performance compared with existing algorithms in multi-radio ad hoc networks.