Binary Exponential Backoff

Binary exponential backoff refers to a collision resolution mechanism used in random access MAC protocols. This algorithm is used in Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) wired LANs. In Ethernet networks, this algorithm is commonly used to schedule retransmissions after collisions.
Course Name: Computer Networks Level : UG

Author Phani Swathi Chitta Mentor Prof. Saravanan Vijayakumaran

Learning Objectives
After interacting with this Learning Object, the learner will be able to: Explain how the binary exponential backoff algorithm works

Definitions of the components/Keywords:

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Binary exponential backoff refers to a collision resolution mechanism used in random access MAC protocols. This algorithm is used in Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) wired LANs.
In Ethernet networks, this algorithm is commonly used to schedule retransmissions after collisions. After a collision, time is divided into discrete slots whose length is equal to 2, where is the maximum propagation delay in the network. The reason for this choice is that 2 is the minimum amount of time a source needs to listen to the channel to always detect a collision. The stations involved in the collision randomly pick an integer from the set {0,1}. This set is called the contention window. If the sources collide again because they picked the same integer, the contention window size is doubled and it becomes {0,1,2,3}. Now the sources involved in the second collision randomly pick an integer from the set {0,1,2,3} and wait that number of slot times before trying again. Before they try to transmit, they listen to the channel and transmit only if the channel is idle. This causes the source which picked the smallest integer in the contention window to succeed in transmitting its frame.

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Definitions of the components/Keywords:

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In general, after collisions, a random number between 0 and is chosen.

After a station detects collision, it aborts its transmission in the slot duration itself in which it started transmitting.
In Ethernet, the doubling of the contention window stops after 10 collisions and the contention window remains {0,1,...,1023}.

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After 16 collisions , the process is aborted and the source stops trying.

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Source S1

Master Layout 1
Part 1 Collision with two sources Part 2 Collision with three sources
Assuming two sources are involved in collision
Place a drop down box to choose number of sources 2 and 3

Time

4
Source S2
Time

Step 1:
Source S1

C W: {0, 1}

Time

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4 5

Source S2 CW: {0, 1}

Time

Instruction for the animator The figure in master layout should appear first The first statement in DT should appear

Text to be displayed in the working area (DT) Assume first collision took place, The initial contention window for two sources is {0, 1}

Next the numbers 0 and 1 in braces should appear along with the second sentence in DT

Step 2:
Source S1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Time 8

CW :{0,1}

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4 5

Source S2
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Time 8

CW: {0,1}
Instruction for the animator With the first sentence in DT, the time line should be divided. Next the two sentences in DT should appear

Text to be displayed in the working area (DT) After a collision, time is divided into discrete slots. Frame length is much larger than the slot size. A single slot is sufficient to detect a collision.

Step 3:
Source S1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Time 8

CW :{0,1}

3
4 5

Source S2
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Time 8

CW :{0,1}
Instruction for the animator The first sentence appears first With the second sentence in DT, the blue lines should blink and the red lines at S1 should appear The third and fourth lines should appear and then the red lines at S2 should appear

Text to be displayed in the working area (DT) Ideal case that S1 and S2 picks different slots randomly for the transmission of the frame. Suppose S1 picks 0 and S2 picks 1, S1 starts sending the frame in slot 0 S2 should start sending the frame in slot 1 but it hears the channel is busy and waits till the channel is free.

Step 4:
Source S1
0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Time Collision occurs 7

CW: {0,1,2,3}

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4 5

Source S2
0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Time 7

CW: {0,1,2,3}
Instruction for the animator The first sentence in DT should appear first Now the numbers at the time line should move right and the first zero should disable Then the blue lines should blink After that with the second line in DT, the numbers in the braces should appear

Text to be displayed in the working area (DT) Suppose S1 and S2 picks the same slot number 0 to transmit the frame, they collide again. After second collision, the contention window changes to {0,1,2,3}

Step 5:
Source S1
0 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 Time Collision occurs 6

CW: {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7}

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4 5

Source S2
0 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 Time 6

CW: {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7}

Instruction for the animator The first sentence in DT should appear first Now the numbers at the time line should move right and the first two zeros should disable Then the blue lines should blink After that with the second line in DT, the numbers in the braces should appear Then the third line should appear

Text to be displayed in the working area (DT) Suppose S1 and S2 picks the same slot number 2 to transmit the frame, they collide again. After third collision, the contention window changes to {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7} After 16 such attempts of transmission, the process is aborted.

Master Layout 2

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Part 1 Collision with two sources Part 2 Collision with three sources
Assuming three sources are involved in collision

Source S1
Time

Source S2
Time

4
Source S3
Time

Step 1:
Source S1 CW: {0,1}
Time

2
Source S2

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4 5

CW: {0,1} Source S3 CW: {0,1}

Instruction for the animator The figure in master layout should appear first The first statement in DT should appear Assume first collision took place, The initial contention window for three sources is {0, 1}

Time

Time
Text to be displayed in the working area (DT)

Next the numbers 0 and 1 in braces should appear along with the second sentence in DT

Step 2:
Source S1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6

CW: {0,1}

7 8 Time

2
Source S2
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

3
4 5

CW: {0,1} Source S3

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Time

CW: {0,1}
Instruction for the animator With the first sentence in DT, the time line should be divided. Next the two sentences in DT should appear After a collision, time is divided into discrete slots. Frame length is much larger than the slot size. A single slot is sufficient to detect a collision.

7 8 Time

Text to be displayed in the working area (DT)

Step 3:
Source S1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6

CW: {0,1,2,3}

7 8 Time

2
Source S2
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

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4 5

CW: {0,1,2,3} Source S3

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Time

CW: {0,1}
Instruction for the animator The first sentence in DT should appear first Then the blue lines should blink After that with the second line in DT, the numbers in the braces should appear After that the third sentence should appear

7 8 Time

Text to be displayed in the working area (DT) Suppose S1 and S2 picks the same slot number 0 to transmit the frame and S3 picks 1, then S1 and S2 collide again. After second collision, the contention window changes to {0,1,2,3}

The contention window of S3 remains same.

Step 4:
Source S1
0 0 1 2 3 4 5

CW: {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7}

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2
Source S2
0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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4 5

CW: {0,1,2,3} Source S3

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Time

CW: {0,1,2,3}
Instruction for the animator The first sentence in DT should appear first Then the blue lines should blink After that with the second line in DT, the numbers in the braces should appear After that with the third line in DT, the numbers in the braces should appear

7 8 Time

Text to be displayed in the working area (DT) Suppose S1 picks slot number 0 to transmit the frame after second collision and S3 picks 1 after first collision and S2 picks 3 after second collision, then S1 and S3 collide again. After third collision, the contention window of S1 changes to {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7} After second collision, the contention window of S3 changes to {0,1,2,3}

Electrical Engineering Slide 1

Introduction

Slide 3
Definitions Analogy

Slide 17

Slide 19

Slide 18 Interactivity:

Want to know more Test your understanding Lets Sum up (summary) (Further Reading) (questionnaire)

{0, 1}

Source S1
Time

Try it yourself
Place a dropdown box for each source Place a dropdown box to select the slot number

{0, 1}

Source S2
Time

The range of the slot number is 0 to 7 Place a dropdown box to select the contention window The range of the contention window is {0,1}, {0,1,2,3}, {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7}

{0, 1}

Source S3
Time

{0, 1}

Source S4
Time

16
Credits

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Answers: a)

Questionnaire
1. After how many collisions will the process be aborted? b) 16 c) 20 d)

2. If a 5th collision occurs, the contention window is Answers: a) 35 b) 0,1 c) 0 to 35 d)0 to 5

3. If a 12th collision occurs, the contention window is Answers: a) 4095 d)0 to 1023 b) 0 to 4095 c) 1023

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The answers are given in red

Links for further reading

Reference websites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exponential_backoff

Books:
Computer Networks Andrew S Tanenbaum, fourth edition, Prentice Hall

Research papers:

Summary
Binary exponential backoff refers to a collision resolution mechanism used in random access MAC protocols. This algorithm is used in Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) wired LANs.

In Ethernet networks, this algorithm is commonly used to schedule retransmissions after collisions.

After a collision, time is divided into discrete slots whose length is equal to 2, where is the time taken by the frame to reach other end.

In general, after is chosen

collisions, a random number between 0 and