DISTRIBUTED OVERLAY MULTI-CHANNEL MEDIA ACCESS CONTROL (MAC)FOR WIRELESS AD HOC NETWORKS

摘要

Systems and methods for distributed overlay multi-channel MAC for wireles s ad hoc networks are described. In one aspect, the systems and methods divi de channel frequencies defined by a wireless network protocol into a single home channel and multiple guest channels that are orthogonal to the home cha nnel. Each of the network nodes in the ad hoc network operates on the home c hannel for respective variable and overlapping amounts of time to maintain n etwork connectivity with other respective network nodes. Additionally, each of the network nodes determines whether and when to switch from the home cha nnel to a particular guest channel of the guest channels for a variable amou nt of time to increase data throughput over one or more corresponding commun ication links in the ad hoc network with other network node(s).