UMAC — A Universal MAC architecture for heterogeneous home networks

In-Home networks are becoming increasingly heterogeneous, as more wireless, optical, and wired communication technologies become available. The heterogeneity favors flexible computing platforms for the network nodes, like the Universal MAC (UMAC) introduced in this paper. Its architecture is illustrated together with its integral programming model for Media Access Control processing. The paper also addresses the reference applications of the UMAC, namely IEEE 802.11n MAC processing, and the InterMAC, a new sub-layer designed for heterogeneous home networks. The InterMAC is able to manage and exploit the heterogeneity. The paper concludes with the description of a Wireless LAN prototype that uses both MAC applications to implement a node of the future home network.