A Rehearsal-Assisted Distributed MAC Protocol for TDD-CDMA Based Multihop Networks

A multihop architecture of a CDMA system will bring new challenges to the MAC protocol design due to its interference-limited nature. In this letter, a new rehearsal-assisted distributed MAC protocol has been proposed. This protocol makes use of a separated control channel to resolve conflictions and to gauge the multiple access interference (MAI). The rehearsal procedure tests the mutual influence between quasi- access link and other ongoing communications via distributed power control. A new link will be set up only when there is no negative feedback from the rehearsal. Thus the on-going links can be protected from deterioration due to an unregulated new access. Simulation results show a significant improvement on throughput by our protocol.