Interference-Sensitive Preorders for MANETs

Abstract : Connectivity and communication interference are two key aspects in mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs). We propose a process algebraic model targeted at the analysis of both such aspects of MANETs. The framework includes a probabilistic process calculus and a suite of analytical techniques based on a probabilistic observational congruence and an interference-sensitive preorder. The observational congruence allows us to verify whether two networks exhibit the same behaviour. The preorder makes it possible to evaluate the interference level of different, behaviourally equivalent, networks. We show our framework at work on the analysis of the well-known Alternating Bit Protocol, contrasting the behavior of the standard implementation of the protocol against an alternative implementation that exploits an ideal interference cancellation scheme for CDMA transmissions.