A Novel Scheme for Large-Size Data Block Transmission in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks: Architecture, Challenges and Discussions

Limited by the bandwidth of IEEE 802.11p protocol, a large-size data block commonly cannot be transmitted within one communication link in a vehicular ad hoc network (VANET). When transmitting large-size data block in VANETs, the traditional routing-layer-based solutions usually employed a large number of routing paths to extend the data link duration through continuously changing routing path, which commonly leads to frequent communication link disconnection and re-connection. Another shortcoming of the routing-layer solutions in transmitting large-size data block is that dense relay node is required to obtain sufficient stable routing paths for maintaining the long data transmission duration. In this paper, we present a new scheme for efficiently transmitting large-size data block in VANETs, which dedicate to improve the data transmission efficiency through shortening the total duration of the data transmission process at the network architecture and physical connection levels. Based on the assistance of the dual-communication mode and edge computing technique, a heterogeneous network architecture is proposed to introduce multiband orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MB-OFDM) based ultra-wideband (UWB) technique into the VANETs for transmitting large-size data block. The key challenges of the scheme and alternative solutions for the challenges are analyzed, in which several mechanisms for quick parameter pre-configuration, the quick MB-OFDM UWB link establishment and highly efficient multi-user access to the OFDM-UWB network are presented. The key obstacles that limit the effectiveness of the scheme are also evaluated, of which the results show the presented scheme is feasible.