1 Wireless Media Access Control

This chapter deals with the problem of designing and effectively utilizing wireless communication channels. Since the wireless medium is inherently a shared resource, controlling channel access becomes a central theme that determines the fundamental capacity of the wireless network and has a dramatic impact on system complexity and cost. Therefore, our primary focus will be the design and implementation of Media Access Control (MAC) protocols for mobile wireless networks. The role of a MAC protocol is explored and the major design choices and constraints are examined, discussing their impact on system complexity and cost. We then identify the fundamental channel access techniques that are used almost universally in a vast majority of wireless networks. An overview of MAC protocol research that spans cellular telephony, wireless ATM and ad hoc networks is then presented with a qualitative discussion of relative characteristics and performance. We will provide insights into the strengths and weaknesses of each protocol, revealing which protocols are best suited for specific architectures and applications.