Spectrum co-existence of IEEE 802.11b and 802.16a networks using the CSCC etiquette protocol

This paper considers the feasibility of operating both IEEE 802.11b (Wi-Fi) and 802.16a (Wi-Max) networks in the same shared frequency band. A specific method using the "CSCC" (common spectrum coordination channel) etiquette protocol is studied and compared with earlier results on reactive interference avoidance algorithms. The CSCC concept is outlined, and its application to this particular 802.11&16 spectrum sharing problem is described in detail. The CSCC protocol is used to exchange control information on transmitter and receiver parameters, and hence to cooperatively adapt key PHY-layer variables such as frequency or power. A NS2 simulation model is developed to evaluate performance for representative system scenarios. Both single and multiple 802.11b hotspots per 802.16a cell are considered with the degree of spatial clustering of radio nodes as a key parameter. Simulation results demonstrate that CSCC can improve 802.16a service quality at the expense of a modest decrease in 802.11b throughput in the one-hotspot hidden-receiver scenario considered. Overall system throughput can be significantly improved over reactive schemes depending on the degree of spatial clustering