Multiple packet multiple channel CSMA/CD protocols for local area networks

Abstract

Multiple-channel architectures have been proposed for broadcasting-based local area networks to overcome the problem of deteriorating performance when a very high speed communication channel is used. Such networks are called multiple-channel local area networks (M-LANs). In a carrier-sense multiple-access with collision detection (CSMA/CD) protocol designed for M-LANs (M-CSMA/CD), a ready station selects only one channel to transmit its packet according to some channel selection mechanism. A new CSMA/CD protocol for M-LAN architecture is proposed by which a station may select and try to transmit the same packet on K channels (K>or=1). If it has been successfully transmitted on more than one channel after the end-to-end propagation delay, it randomly selects one channel to finish its transmission and immediately stops its transmission on the rest of the channels. This is called the multipacket multichannel CSMA/CD protocol (MM-CSMA/CD). The performance of the proposed MM-CSMA/CD protocol can be shown to be potentially better than that of the M-CSMA/CD protocol and the traditional CSMA/CD protocol.<>