Energy-efficient routing using timer-based MAC protocol in power-controlled multihop cellular networks

In this paper, we propose a novel cross-layer design method for implementing the metric, minimizing consumed energy per packet, by using a conventional on-demand routing protocol in power-controlled multihop cellular networks. If CSMA/CA is used as the MAC layer algorithm of each mobile node, the routing algorithm using flooding selects a shortest hop path regardless of its metric. Thus, the established path has no power-saving effect compared with the shortest hop path. To solve this problem, we consider not only an energy-efficient routing algorithm, but also a MAC layer algorithm that is adequate to optimize its performance. Computer simulations show that the proposed scheme outperforms the conventional schemes with respect to the average total consumed power, while maintaining a similar average success rate. Moreover, the proposed scheme approximates the optimal solution calculated by CPLEX, and is scalable since each mobile node operates in a distributed manner.