A Down-to-Earth Scheduling Strategy for Dense SINR Wireless Networks

Abstract

This work presents a scheduling strategy for wireless networks under the Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) model. This model employs the signal-to-noise ratio and the cumulative interference of simultaneous communications as a criterion to determine whether a transmission can be correctly received at the destination. As an advantage, the SINR model allows spatial reuse, i.e., given certain conditions, concurrent communication between multiple devices is possible, even if they are all within the coverage areas of one other. The strategy proposed in this work estimates the interference at the receivers, to determine which sets of devices can transmit simultaneously. The strategy assumes that devices know their positions on the plane and is based on a heuristic according to which transmissions only occur to the closest device. The cumulative interference at receivers is determined based on the analysis of the communications between pairs of devices. The output is a schedule that determines which devices can communicate on consecutive time slots. The strategy was evaluated through simulation, for networks of different densities. Results attest to the effectiveness of the schedules obtained.