A novel scheduling algorithm for physical-layer network coding under Markov model in wireless multi-hop network

Physical-layer network coding (PNC) is a promising approach for wireless networks: it allows nodes to transmit simultaneously and encode packets by superposing signals at the physical layer, which can improve throughput. Because of the difficulty in scheduling simultaneous transmissions, we propose an opportunistic scheduling algorithm in the media access control (MAC) layer and analyze the achievable throughput of the Denoise-and-Forward (DF) PNC scheme for both symmetric and asymmetric channel statuses, where random errors may occur for both BPSK and QPSK modulation techniques. Simulation results show that our algorithm cannot only improve throughput but can also adapt to varying channel conditions. It is further revealed that for the same throughput, our algorithm is more power-efficient with an asymmetric channel status than with a symmetric channel status.

► We consider a more complicated network topology than traditional TWRC model. ► We propose an easy and practical opportunistic scheduling algorithm. ► We analyze system throughput in both symmetric and asymmetric channel statuses.