A Metric for DISH Networks: Analysis, Implications, and Applications

In wireless networks, node cooperation has been exploited as a data relaying mechanism for decades. However, the wireless channel allows for much richer interaction among nodes. In particular, Distributed Information SHaring (DISH) represents a new improvement to multichannel MAC protocol design by using a cooperative element at the control plane. In this approach, nodes exchange control information to make up for other nodes´ insufficient knowledge about the environment, and thereby aid in their decision making. To date, what is lacking is a theoretical understanding of DISH. In this paper, we view cooperation as a network resource and evaluate the availability of cooperation, p_{co}. We first analyze p_{co} in the context of a multichannel multihop wireless network, and then perform simulations which show that the analysis accurately characterizes p_{co} as a function of underlying network parameters. Next, we investigate the correlation between p_{co} and network metrics such as collision rate, packet delay, and throughput. We find a near-linear relationship between p_{co} and the metrics, which suggests that p_{co} can be used as an appropriate performance indicator itself. Finally, we apply our analysis to solving a channel bandwidth allocation problem, where we derive optimal schemes and provide general guidelines on bandwidth allocation for DISH networks.