Spatial fairness in linear wireless multi-access networks

Multi-access networks may exhibit severe unfairness in throughput, in the sense that some nodes receive structurally higher throughput than others. Recent studies show that this unfairness is due to local differences in the neighborhood structure: Nodes with fewer neighbors receive better access. We study the unfairness in saturated linear networks, and adapt the multi-access CSMA protocol to remove the unfairness completely, by choosing the activation rates of nodes as a specific function of the number of neighbors. We then investigate the consequences of this choice of activation rates on the network-average saturated throughput, and we show that these rates perform well in non-saturated settings.

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2010
• Where: CORR
• Authors: Peter M. van de Ven, J. S. H. van Leeuwaarden, Dee Denteneer, A. J. E. M. Janssen
• Keywords: Activation Rates, CORR 2010, Education, Severe Unfairness, Throughput