A Split Architecture for Random Access MAC for SDR Platforms
Published in 8th Conference on Cognitive Radio Oriented Wireless Networks (CROWNCOM), 2013
Recommended citation: P. Di Francesco, S. McGettrick, U.K. Anyanwu, J.C. O'Sullivan, A.B. MacKenzie, and L.A. DaSilva. 2013. "A Split Architecture for Random Access MAC for SDR Platforms." CROWNCOM, Washington, DC.
Implementation of carrier-sensing-based medium access control (MAC) protocols on inexpensive reconfigurable radio platforms has proven challenging due to long and unpredictable delays associated with both signal processing on a general purpose processor (GPP) and the interface between the RF front-end and the GPP. This paper describes the development and implementation of a split-functionality architecture for a contention-based carrier-sensing MAC, in which some of the functions reside on an FPGA and others reside in the GPP. We experimentally test the performance of the resulting protocols in a multihop environment in terms of end-to-end throughput and required frame retransmissions.