Index-based channel hopping for multi-rendezvous multi-channel MAC

Abstract

Multi-channel Medium Access Control (MAC) protocols aim to transmit in parallel on distinct channels in order to increase spectrum utilization. In this letter, we consider dynamic multi-channel access problem with independent and stochastically identical channels. We formulate the problem as a Restless Multi-Armed Bandit (RMAB) process and propose a novel load-adaptive frequency hopping method, namely Index-Based Channel Hopping (IBCH) algorithm, with the goal of optimal spectrum allocation and throughput maximization. We classify previous efforts by their spectrum decision mechanisms and rendezvous characteristics as single- and multi-rendezvous protocols. Later on, we compare performance of IBCH with various protocols from both rendezvous classes at varying transmission range, network size and spectrum availability. Simulation results show that IBCH significantly outperforms other spectrum assignment methods from both rendezvous classes.