Leader Election in Multi-Hop Radio Networks

Abstract: In this paper we present a framework for leader election in multi-hop radio networks which yield randomized leader election algorithms taking $O(\text{broadcasting time})$ in expectation, and another which yields algorithms taking fixed $O(\sqrt{\log n})$-times broadcasting time. Both succeed with high probability. We show how to implement these frameworks in radio networks without collision detection, and in networks with collision detection (in fact in the strictly weaker beep model). In doing so, we obtain the first optimal expected-time leader election algorithms in both settings, and also improve the worst-case running time in directed networks without collision detection by an $O(\sqrt {\log n})$ factor.