Analytical Analysis of Applying Packet Fragmentation Mechanism on Both Basic and RTS/CTS Access Methods of the IEEE 802.11b DCF Network Under Imperfect Channel and Finite Load Conditions

The mathematical modeling and performance evaluation of the IEEE 802.11 network in all its various extensions (802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g, 802.11e, 802.11n, etc.) have already been widely explored over the past years. However, the Packet Fragmentation Mechanism (PFM), which is proposed by the IEEE work group to enhance the MAC sub-layer of the IEEE 802.11 standard in an error-prone channel, has been missed in the available literature. Yet, the PFM is the only existing solution to reduce the influence of bit error rate and the length of data packets on the packet error rate, and consequently on the performances of IEEE 802.11 networks. In this paper, we propose a new three-dimensional Markov chain in order to model, for the first time in the literature, the PFM in both Basic and RTS/CTS access methods of the IEEE 802.11b DCF network under imperfect channel and finite load conditions. Then, we develop mathematical models to derive a variety of performance metrics, such as: the overall throughput, the average packet delay successfully transmitted, the average packet drop time, the delay jitter and the packet delay distribution. Performance analysis of applying PFM on both Basic and RTS/CTS access methods of the IEEE 802.11b DCF network under imperfect channel and finite load conditions shows original results and leads to new conclusions that could not be intuitively expected.