Analysis of a CSMA-Based Wireless Network: Feasible Throughput Region and Power Consumption

Abstract: We analytically study a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA)-based network. In the network, the nodes have their own average throughput demands for transmission to a common base station. The CSMA is based on the request-to-send (RTS)/clear-to-send (CTS) handshake mechanism. Each node individually chooses its probability of transmitting an RTS packet, which specifies the length of its requested data transmission period. The RTS packets transmitted by different nodes in the same time slot interfere with one another, and compete to be received by the base station. If a node's RTS has the received signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) higher than the capture ratio, it will be successfully received. The node will then be granted the data transmission period. The transmission probabilities of RTS packets of all nodes will determine the average throughput and power consumption of each node. The set of all possible throughput demands of nodes that can be supported by the network is called the feasible throughput region. We characterize the feasible throughput region and provide an upper bound on the total power consumption for any throughput demands in the feasible throughput region. The upper bound corresponds to one of three points in the feasible throughput region depending on the fraction of time occupied by the RTS packets.