Comparative Analysis of Transmitter and Receiver Based Rate Adaptation Algorithms for IEEE 802.11 Wireless Ad-hoc Networks

The capacity of wireless ad-hoc network is enhanced with rate adaptive algorithms. For rate adaptation, feedback of channel condition is essential. One of the ways to achieve this is the Cross-Layer Design (CLD) approach. The key idea is to exploit the channel condition by optimal selection of data rate. The data rate can be decided at transmitter or receiver to achieve the goal of capacity enhancement. For comparative analysis two proposals for single hop networks namely Transmitter Based Capacity Enhancement Algorithm for Wireless Ad-hoc Networks using Cross-Layer Design Approach (TCECLD) [1] and Receiver Based Capacity Enhancement Algorithm for Wireless Ad-hoc Networks using Cross-Layer Design Approach (RCECLD) [2] are considered. The analytical and simulation study is performed to characterize the gains in throughput as a function of the channel conditions. Finally an extensive set of simulations are performed on IEEE 802.11b media access protocols to observe the comparative system throughput.