CFPSM: An energy efficient multi-hop WLAN protocol

IEEE 802.11 WLAN protocol defines an ad hoc network configuration in which stations communicate among each other without the need of centralized control functions. Ad hoc networks have low performance and their stations consume more power due to contention in the network. We have devised an improved protocol, called the CFPSM protocol, which facilitates transmissions with reduced contention. We have defined an announcement period in which the stations reserve the channel by announcing the frames to be transmitted. These frames are transmitted collision-free in the following transmission period. These mechanisms result in high throughput and low power consumption in the stations. We also present extensions to CFPSM for multi-hop WLAN configuration to support mobile ad hoc routing. The suggested mechanisms lead to optimal frame transmissions across adjacent WLANs and avoid problems like indefinite postponement of transmissions or wastage of contention-free periods in WLANs.