Performance evaluation of the MetaRing MAC protocol carrying asynchronous traffic

This paper analyzes in depth the asynchronous part of the MetaRing MAC protocol by considering a network configuration (hereafter scenario) in which the slot reuse capability is used to the minimum extent possible. The MetaRing MAC protocol behavior is first analyzed in asymptotic conditions (i.e., when each station is trying to seize all the medium capacity), then in underload conditions (i.e., when the offered load is lower than the maximum achievable aggregate throughput), and finally in overload conditions (i.e., when the offered load is slightly higher than the maximum achievable aggregate throughput). Our results show that the MetaRing is unfair and that the unfairness depends, in particular, upon the workload parameters, in addition to the K and L protocol parameter values. Our analysis includes medium capacities in the range 150 Mbps 2.4 Gbps.