Actual and perspective methods of constructing wireless access networks in underwater acoustic communication

The large delay in the propagation of signals, the strong influence of reflected signals and, as a result, the high probability of error rate and low data transfer speed are distinctive features of underwater acoustic communication networks from packet radio networks. In such circumstances, the construction of a wireless underwater access network requires the development of special media access control protocols, since many advanced network protocols developed for terrestrial radio networks had extremely low data transmission efficiency in an underwater environment. This article provides an overview of available solutions for promising methods of building a wireless access network in underwater acoustic communication, which are schedule-based and competition-based media access protocols. The ALOHA protocol and its modifications (ALOHA-CA and ALOHA-AN), protocols with the carrier determination mechanism (FAMA and Slotted FAMA), the improved MACAW protocol, UW-MAC and Tone Lohi protocols are also described in this article. Deciding on which protocol to use within a deployable network is an important task in network design. The article provides a comparison of protocols and proposes a way of analyzing in which systems these protocols could be applied. At the end of the work, an analysis of possible scenarios for the application of various protocols in the underwater acoustic communication environment and ideas for additional research in medium access control protocols development was provided.