A network coding-based packet forwarding scheme for unicast random access networks with exponential backoff

Exponential backoff is an intrinsic feature of MAC-layer standards of most types of ad hoc networks. It leads to random access channels with memory. In this paper we propose a new network coding-based packet forwarding scheme suitable for multiple unicast scenarios in downlink direction of a wireless network. The wireless nodes as well as the access point attempt to access the channel, based on slotted Aloha with exponential backoff. In the proposed scheme we convert multiple unicast scenario to a combination of several anycast and a multicast scenarios. By proposing an open multiclass queueing network, we are able to derive the maximum stable download throughput of the network. The superiority of the proposed scheme compared to simple forwarding scheme as well as the optimum scheme recently proposed for memoryless channels is shown in different conditions. Simulation results confirm our analytical approach.