A tightly synchronized TDMA MAC protocol for multi-hop WiFi-based long distance networks

In this paper, a centralized TDMA-based MAC protocol for multi-hop WiFi-based Long Distance network (WiLD) networks, called 2C, is presented which provides better end-to-end throughput and delay. The possibility of collision which exists in 2P-based MAC protocols due to the loss of synchronization token has been reduced significantly employing tight time synchronization among the nodes. 2C enhances network performance by optimally utilizing the available bandwidth through overlapped scheduling of transmissions in different links. The proposed MAC protocol shows clear improvement over 2P in terms of saturation throughput as well as average end-to-end packet delay over multiple hops. NS-2 simulation results validate the claim of the paper.