Exploring Alternatives to Channel Change for Improving the Coexistence of IEEE 802.15.4 and IEEE 802.11

The recent increase in the number of technologies operating in the 2.4GHz ISM band has drawn attention towards the impact they can have on each other. In this paper, we have conducted a case study about coexistence of IEEE 802.11and IEEE 802.15.4 which has led us to discover previously unknown interactions. We have performed experiments using real hardware to evaluate the impact of IEEE 802.11 on IEEE 802.15.4 and vice versa. More importantly, we have identified IEEE 802.11MAC/PHY layer parameters that could be changed in order to improve the performance of coexisting IEEE 802.15.4 nodes. We have also identified the order in which these adjustments should be made.