Research Article
A Joint Beamforming based SDMA Protocol for IEEE 802.11n Downlink
@ARTICLE{10.4108/eai.19-8-2015.2260221, author={Cheng Guo and Liqiang Zhao and Hui Zhao and Whai-En Chen}, title={A Joint Beamforming based SDMA Protocol for IEEE 802.11n Downlink}, journal={EAI Endorsed Transactions on Wireless Spectrum}, volume={1}, number={4}, publisher={EAI}, journal_a={WS}, year={2015}, month={9}, keywords={wlan, sdma, beamforming, array antenna, mimo precoding}, doi={10.4108/eai.19-8-2015.2260221} }- Cheng Guo
Liqiang Zhao
Hui Zhao
Whai-En Chen
Year: 2015
A Joint Beamforming based SDMA Protocol for IEEE 802.11n Downlink
WS
EAI
DOI: 10.4108/eai.19-8-2015.2260221
Abstract
To support space division multiple access (SDMA) in the IEEE 802.11n downlink, a joint beamforming based MAC protocol, J-MAC is presented in this paper. An access point (AP) follows J-MAC, which employs multiple array antennas, and user equipments (UEs) follow the IEEE 802.11x standard which employ omni-directional MIMO antennas. J-MAC maintains full compatibility with 802.11x, and UEs do not change any more. In J-MAC, firstly, the AP achieves the weight vector for the array antenna-based beamforming, and updates it periodically. Secondly, before transmitting any data-frame, the AP achieves the weight vector for the MIMO-based beamforming, which should be updated in each transmission. Finally, after getting the joint beamforming, the AP transmits its data-frames to multiple UEs simultaneously. Simulation results show that J-MAC can support the joint beamforming effectively and provide much higher network throughput, lower delay, jitter and packet-loss-rate than DCF does.
Copyright © 2015 Ch. Guo et al., licensed to EAI. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/), which permits unlimited use, distribution and reproduction in any medium so long as the original work is properly cited.