Optimizing medium access using integer sequences in wireless networks

IEEE 802.11 Distributed Coordinated Function (DCF) considers Backoff algorithm as a core element of Media Access Control (MAC) protocols, as it minimizes collisions in wireless networks. This paper introduces an Integer Sequences based Backoff Algorithm (ISBA) which exploits exponential, cubic, jacobsthal and catalan integer sequences to determine proper Contention Window (CW) size. Based on backoff stages and acknowledgment failure count, these integer sequences are utilized to acquire the adequate growth rate of CW. This leads to safe medium access to curtail end-to-end delay and collisions among competing stations. The performance of the proposed ISBA algorithm is evaluated by computing throughput, packet loss and delay using NS2 simulator. Based on the extracted simulation results, it is inferred that the proposed algorithm outperforms Pessimistic Fibonacci Backoff (PFB) and Binary Exponential Backoff (BEB), especially in the static grid and random environment topologies.