Multi-piconet formation to increase channel utilization in IEEE 802.15.3 high-rate WPAN

IEEE 802.15.3 high-rate Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs) is a short range communication technology, in which devices (DEVs) of a piconet communicate with a Piconet Coordinator (PNC). An extension of the communication area in WPAN via formation of a multi-piconet is one of the most challenging issues. Although a concept of multi-piconet has been defined in the IEEE 802.15.3 WPAN standard, a detailed formation mechanism of multi-piconet is not presented. In this paper, we propose efficient multi-piconet formation algorithms, Piconet Coordinator To Device (PCTD) and Device To Piconet Coordinator (DTPC). We evaluate the performance of the algorithms via simulations. The proposed algorithms are shown to extend the communication area with one to three levels and to provide sufficient Channel Time Allocations (CTAs) for subsidiary piconets in IEEE 802.15.3 WPAN.