Throughput Enhancement of a Random Access WLAN by Combination of Digital and Analog Network Coding

In this paper, we propose a new packet routing scheme, i.e., a combined digital and analog network coding scheme (DNC-ANC) suitable for multiple unicast scenario. In this respect, we consider a random access WLAN comprised of single and multi-hop unicast sessions. Then we modify the MAC scheme in order to enable ANC. In order to evaluate the effect of the proposed DNC-ANC scheme analytically, we employ an open queueing network and map the details of MAC as well as routing schemes onto its suitable parameters. By writing the corresponding traffic equations and applying the stability condition, we are able to find the maximum stable throughput for the considered scenario. Finally, we will show the amount of throughput enhancement of the proposed scheme compared with plain routing, single DNC, and single ANC in different conditions. We also validate our modeling approach by simulation.