The objective of this chapter is to provide a general and flexible analysis method for the capacity of a wireless ad hoc network. First of all, the total capacity of a typical ad hoc network is defined, characterized and formulated as a function of the cumulative distribution function (CDF) of the received SIR. Then, a closed form expression for the CDF of signal to interference power ratio (SIR) is approximated, which directly results in a closed form solution for the total network capacity. Among various capacity metrics, the focus of this chapter is on the total outage capacity as a practical example. The effect of the outage threshold, β, on the total capacity of the network is studied and the optimum β that maximizes the capacity is determined.

Chapter Contents:

• 5.1 Introduction
• 5.2 Fundamental concepts
• 5.2.1 Ad hoc network scenario
• 5.2.2 Capacity definition
• 5.2.2.1 Outage capacity
• 5.3 Analytical modelling
• 5.3.1 Modelling of the received signals in ad hoc networks
• 5.3.2 Model verification
• 5.4 Capacity analysis in ad hoc networks
• 5.4.1 Capacity analysis
• 5.4.2 Optimum outage threshold
• 5.5 Further developments
• 5.6 Conclusion
• References

Inspec keywords: approximation theory; ad hoc networks

Other keywords: outage capacity; SIR; signal to interference power ratio; wireless ad hoc networks; general analysis method; CDF; cumulative distribution function; flexible analysis method; capacity metrics; network capacity

Subjects: Interpolation and function approximation (numerical analysis); Radio links and equipment