Adaptive Backoff Algorithm for Wireless Internet

The standard IEEE 802.11 MAC protocol uses the Binary Exponential Backoff algorithm. The Binary Exponential Backoff makes exponential increments to contention window sizes. This work has studied the effect of choosing a combination between linear, exponential and logarithmic increments to contention windows. Results have shown that choosing the right increment based on network status enhances the data delivery ratio up to 37% compared to the Binary Exponential Backoff, and up to 39 % compared to the Pessimistic Linear Exponential Backoff algorithms for wireless Internet.