Evaluation of Medium Access Technologies for Next Generation Millimeter-Wave WLAN and WPAN

Abstract

The wide harmonized spectrum in the unlicensed millimeter-wave (60 GHz) band has been receiving increased attention, since it enables multi-Gbps data rates suitable for applications of next generation WLAN and WPAN such as wireless display, high-speed device synchronization, and the evolution of Wi-Fi. As such, the industry is in the process of defining new 60 GHz PHY and MAC technologies that can serve a wide variety of applications and usages, as to avoid the proliferation of non-coexistent devices operating in this unoccupied spectrum. Therefore, in this paper we discuss the challenges and trade-offs with three of the most "popular" medium access schemes, namely, CSMA/CA, TDMA, and polling, in meeting the diverse requirements of the applications and usages envisioned for the 60 GHz band. We also analyze the throughput performance of each access technology and discuss a hybrid MAC that takes advantage of each access mechanism to meet the requirements of the envisioned usages and applications of 60 GHz WLAN and WPAN.