Protocol Description
A node wishing to send data initiates the process by sending a Request to Send frame (RTS). The destination node replies with a Clear To Send frame (CTS). Any other node receiving the RTS or CTS frame should refrain from sending data for a given time (solving the hidden node problem). The amount of time the node should wait before trying to get access to the medium is included in both the RTS and the CTS frame. This protocol was designed under the assumption that all nodes have the same transmission ranges.
RTS/CTS is an additional method to implement virtual carrier sensing in Carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA). By default, 802.11 relies on physical carrier sensing only which is known to suffer from the hidden node problem.
RTS/CTS packet size threshold is 0–2347 octets. Typically, sending RTS/CTS frames does not occur unless the packet size exceeds this threshold. If the packet size that the node wants to transmit is larger than the threshold, the RTS/CTS handshake gets triggered. Otherwise, the data frame gets sent immediately.
IEEE 802.11 RTS/CTS mechanism could help solve exposed node problem as well, only if the nodes are synchronized and packet sizes and data rates are the same for both the transmitting nodes. When a node hears an RTS from a neighboring node, but not the corresponding CTS, that node can deduce that it is an exposed node and is permitted to transmit to other neighboring nodes. If the nodes are not synchronized (or if the packet sizes are different or the data rates are different) the problem may occur that the sender will not hear the CTS or the ACK during the transmission of data of the second sender.
Read more about this topic: IEEE 802.11 RTS/CTS
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