WiFlex: Multi-Channel Cooperative Protocols for Heterogeneous Wireless Devices

In ISM bands, many wireless protocols proliferate such as 802.11, Bluetooth, and ZigBee. However, these incompatible protocols create complex coexistence and connectivity problems. If the same trend continues, similar interference and performance problems will continue to exist in future unlicensed bands. As new unlicensed bands open up, one can take a different approach to spectrum sharing. Instead of proposing a new MAC protocol for each type of application, the authors propose a family of parameterized MAC protocols called WiFlex that can tailor to different application needs ranging from wireless sensors to media center.