Efficient MAC Protocols for Low Data Rate UWB Networks

Ultra-wideband (UWB) transmission is an emerging wireless technology offering potential merits for low power, low data rate, and medium range communication. In this paper we consider different approaches towards the cross-layer design of distributed MAC protocol for impulse radio UWB networks. We consider different approaches like transmit power control, rate adaptation, exclusion region, and analyze them for energy and rate efficiency. Simulation studies of these approaches reveal that transmission with maximum power and full rate is most efficient from throughput point of view in most of the scenarios. Rate adaptation performs slightly inferior to maximum power transmission strategy from throughput point of view, but is most energy efficient. It is observed that, there is no need to impose any exclusion region around receiving node in low power, low data rate UWB networks.