MACGSP6: A protocol for supporting internet of things applications with Non-Line-of-Sight links. (February 2017) - Calle, Maria
Highlights: The research implemented a severely degraded IoT network where all links are NLOS. MACGSP6 makes reception probability in this network equivalent to one ideal LOS hop. The hardware implementation cross-validates both analytical and simulation models. Abstract: Wireless Networks with random topologies include multipath and Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) links, especially in urban environments. As the Internet of Things emerges many links will be NLOS. However, network protocols are often only evaluated using Line-of-Sight radio channels. Previous simulations of the MACGSP6 (Medium Access Control for Gossip-based Sleep Protocol Version 6) protocol demonstrate packet reception rates exceed 90% for networks of more than 1000 nodes with Line-of-Sight conditions. This paper measures the performance of MACGSP6 using a prototype testbed where all links are NLOS. Results demonstrate that MACGSP6 achieved better Average Packet Loss, Average Duplicate Packets and energy consumption than a controlled flooding protocol. Additionally, MACGSP6 made all degraded paths from nodes to sink appear as one ideal hop to the application layer. Therefore, MACGSP6 is an energy and data efficient protocol for Internet of Things networks which include NLOS links. Graphical abstract: