Intelligent medium access for mobile ad hoc networks with busy tones and power control

In mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs), one essential issue is how to increase channel utilization while avoiding the hidden-terminal and the exposed-terminal problems. Several MAC protocols, such as RTS/CTS-based and busy-tone-based schemes, have been proposed to alleviate these problems. In this paper, we explore the possibility of combining the concept of power control with the RTS/CTS-based and busy-tone-based protocols to further increase channel utilization. A sender will use an appropriate power level to transmit its packets so as to increase the possibility of channel reuse. The possibility of using discrete, instead of continuous, power levels is also discussed. Through analyses and simulations, we demonstrate the advantage of our new MAC protocol. This, together with the extra benefits such as saving battery energy and reducing cochannel interference, does show a promising direction to enhance the performance of MANETs.