A cross-layer scheduling algorithm with QoS support in wireless networks

Scheduling plays an important role in providing quality of service (QoS) support to multimedia communications in various kinds of wireless networks, including cellular networks, mobile ad hoc networks, and wireless sensor networks. The authors propose a scheduling algorithm at the medium access control (MAC) layer for multiple connections with diverse QoS requirements, where each connection employs adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) scheme at the physical (PHY) layer over wireless fading channels. Each connection is assigned a priority, which is updated dynamically based on its channel and service status; the connection with the highest priority is scheduled each time. The authors' scheduler provides diverse QoS guarantees, uses the wireless bandwidth efficiently, and enjoys flexibility, scalability, and low implementation complexity. Its performance is evaluated via simulations.     

QoSMOS: cross-layer QoS architecture for wireless multimedia sensor networks

Wireless multimedia sensor networks (WMSNs), having inherent features and limited resources, require new quality of service (QoS) protocols for real-time and multimedia applications. In this paper, we present a cross-layer QoS architecture (QoSMOS), that unifies network and link layers into a single communication module for QoS provisioning. Based on QoSMOS architecture, we developed an example reference cross-layer protocol, named cross-layer communication protocol (XLCP), enabling scalable service differentiation in WMSNs. Comprehensive analysis of simulation results indicate that the proposed architecture successfully differentiates service classes in terms of soft delay, reliability and throughput domains. A comparative analysis of XLCP and its counterparts is also given to show the superiority of the cross-layer protocol.     

A ring-based multicast routing topology with QoS support in wireless mesh networks

Wireless mesh networking (WMN) is an emerging technology for future broadband wireless access. The proliferation of the mobile computing devices that are equipped with cameras and ad hoc communication mode creates the possibility of exchanging real-time data between mobile users in wireless mesh networks. In this paper, we argue for a ring-based multicast routing topology with support from infrastructure nodes for group communications in WMNs. We study the performance of multicast communication over a ring routing topology when 802.11 with RTS/CTS scheme is used at the MAC layer to enable reliable multicast services in WMNs. We propose an algorithm to enhance the IP multicast routing on the ring topology. We show that when mesh routers on a ring topology support group communications by employing our proposed algorithms, a significant performance enhancement is realized. We analytically compute the end-to-end delay on a ring multicast routing topology. Our results show that the end-to-end delay is reduced about 33 %, and the capacity of multicast network (i.e., maximum group size that the ring can serve with QoS guarantees) is increased about 50 % as compared to conventional schemes. We also use our analytical results to develop heuristic algorithms for constructing an efficient ring-based multicast routing topology with QoS guarantees. The proposed algorithms take into account all possible traffic interference when constructing the multicast ring topology. Thus, the constructed ring topology provides QoS guarantees for the multicast traffic and minimizes the cost of group communications in WMNs.     

A cross-layer framework for multiobjective performance evaluation of wireless ad hoc networks

In this paper we address the problem of finding the optimal performance region of a wireless ad hoc network when multiple performance metrics are considered. Our contribution is to propose a novel cross-layer framework for deriving the Pareto optimal performance bounds for the network. These Pareto bounds provide key information for understanding the network behavior and the performance trade-offs when multiple criteria are relevant. Our approach is to take a holistic view of the network that captures the cross-interactions among interference management techniques implemented at various layers of the protocol stack (e.g. routing and resource allocation) and determines the objective functions for the multiple criteria to be optimized. The resulting complex multiobjective optimization problem is then solved by multiobjective search techniques. The Pareto optimal sets for an example sensor network are presented and analyzed when delay, reliability and energy objectives are considered.     

Joint QoS control for video streaming over wireless multihop networks: A cross-layer approach

In this paper, we propose a novel cross-layer framework for jointly controlling and coding for multiple video streams in wireless multihop networks. At first, we develop a cross-layer flow control algorithm that works at the medium access control (MAC) layer to adjust each link's persistence probability and at the transport layer to adjust flow rates. This proposal is designed in a distributed manner that is amenable to online implementation for wireless networks, and then, a rate-distortion optimized joint source-channel coding (JSCC) approach for error-resilient scalable encoded video is presented, in which the video is encoded into multiple independent streams and each stream is assigned forward error correction (FEC) codes to avoid error propagation. Furthermore, we integrate the JSCC with the specific flow control algorithm, which optimally applies the appropriate channel coding rate given the constraints imposed by the transmission rate obtained from the proposed flow control algorithm and the prevailing channel condition. Simulation results demonstrate the merits and the need for joint quality of service (QoS) control in order to provide an efficient solution for video streaming over wireless multihop networks.     

Cross-layer resource allocation for QoS guarantee with finite queue constraint in multirate OFDMA wireless networks

Efficient radio resource allocation is essential to provide quality of service （QoS） for wireless networks. In this article, a cross-layer resource allocation scheme is presented with the objective of maximizing system throughput, while providing guaranteed QoS for users. With the assumption of a finite queue for arrival packets, the proposed scheme dynamically a/locates radio resources based on user＇s channel characteristic and QoS metrics derived from a queuing model, which considers a packet arrival process modeled by discrete Markov modulated Poisson process （dMMPP）, and a multirate transmission scheme achieved through adaptive modulation. The cross-layer resource allocation scheme operates over two steps. Specifically, the amount of bandwidth allocated to each user is first derived from a queuing analytical model, and then the algorithm finds the best subcarrier assignment for users. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme maximizes the system throughput while guaranteeing QoS for users.     

A framework for the multicast lifetime maximization problem in energy-constrained wireless ad-hoc networks

We consider the problem of maximizing the lifetime of a given multicast connection in wireless networks that use directional antennas and have limited energy resources. We provide a globally optimal solution to this problem for a special case of using omni-directional antennas. This graph theoretic approach provides us insights into more general case of using directional antennas, and inspires us to produce a group of heuristic algorithms. Experimental results show that our algorithms outperform other energy-aware multicast algorithms significantly in terms of multicast lifetime.

Adaptive multicast routing in multirate loss networks

In this paper, we study two versions of the multicast routing problem in multirate loss networks: complete and partial. In the complete version of the multicast routing problem, the identities of all destination nodes are available to the multicast routing algorithm at once. Conversely, in the partial version of the multicast problem, the identities of the destination nodes are revealed to the routing algorithm one by one. Although the complete version of the multicast routing problem, also known as the Steiner tree problem, has been well studied in the literature, less attention has been paid for the definition of link costs and evaluating the performance of multicast routing algorithm from the network revenue point of view. Therefore, in this paper, we first propose two approaches, namely, the Markov Decision Processbased (MDPbased) and Least Loaded Routingbased (LLRbased) approaches, for defining link costs. Several heuristic multicast routing algorithms are then proposed for both fully connected networks and sparsely connected networks. We have also proposed a new performance metric, referred to as fractional reward loss, for evaluating the performance of multicast routing algorithms. Our simulation results indicate that algorithms based on partial destination information yield worse performance than those based on complete information. We also found that, for fully connected networks, algorithms that use LLRbased link costs yield very competitive performance as compared to those that use MDP approach. However, for sparsely connected networks, LLRbased algorithms yield significantly worse performance as compared to the MDPbased algorithms.     

A cross-layer strategy for cooperative diversity in wireless sensor networks

We investigate the problem of how to minimize the energy consumption in multi-hop Wireless Sensor Network (WSN), under the constraint of end-to-end reliability Quality of Seervice (QoS) requirement. Based on the investigation, we jointly consider the routing, relay selection and power allocation algorithm, and present a novel distributed cross-layer strategy using opportunistic relaying scheme for cooperative communication. The results show that under the same QoS requirement, the proposed cross-layer strategy performs better than other cross-layer cooperative communication algorithms in energy efficiency. We also investigated the impact of several parameters on the energy efficiency of the cooperative communication in WSNs, thus can be used to provide guidelines to decide when and how to apply cooperation for a given setup.     

Fair distributed congestion control in multirate multicast networks

We study fairness of resource allocation in multirate, multicast networks. In multirate networks, different receivers of the same multicast session can receive service at different rates. We develop a mathematical framework to model the maxmin fair allocation of bandwidth with minimum and maximum rate constraints. We present a necessary and sufficient condition for a rate allocation to be maxmin fair in a multirate, multicast network. We propose a distributed algorithm for computing the maxmin fair rates allocated to various source-destination pairs. This algorithm has a low message exchange overhead, and is guaranteed to converge to the maxmin fair rates in finite time.     

An optimization framework for balancing throughput and fairness in wireless networks with QoS support

Quality-of-service (QoS) provisioning, high system throughput, and fairness assurance are indispensable for heterogeneous traffic in future wireless broadband networks. With limited radio resources, increasing system throughput and maintaining fairness are conflicting performance metrics, leading to a natural tradeoff between these two measures. Balancing system throughput and fairness is desired. In this paper, we consider an interference-limited wireless network, and derive a generic optimization framework to obtain an optimal relationship of system throughput and fairness with QoS support and efficient resource utilization, by introducing the bargaining floor. From the relationship curve, different degrees of performance tradeoff between throughput and fairness can be obtained by choosing different bargaining floors. In addition, our framework facilitates call admission control to effectively guarantee QoS of. multimedia traffic. The solutions of resource allocation obtained from the optimization framework achieve the pareto optimality, demonstrating efficient use of network resources.     

MobiCast: A multicast scheme for wireless networks

In this paper, we propose a multicast scheme known as MobiCast that is suitable for mobile hosts in an internetwork environment with small wireless cells. Our scheme adopts a hierarchical mobility management approach to isolate the mobility of the mobile hosts from the main multicast delivery tree. Each foreign domain has a domain foreign agent. We have simulated our scheme using the Network Simulator and the measurements show that our multicast scheme is effective in minimizing disruptions to a multicast session due to the handoffs of the mobile group member, as well as reducing packet loss when a mobile host crosses cell boundaries during a multicast session.     

A cross-layer framework for optimal delay-margin,network lifetime and utility tradeoff in wireless visual sensor networks

For wireless multimedia sensor networks a distributed cross-layer framework is proposed, which not only achieves an optimal tradeoff between network lifetime and its utility but also provides end-to-end delay-margin. The delay-margin, defined as the gap between maximum end-to-end delay threshold and the actual end-to-end delay incurred by the network, is exploited by the application layer to achieve any desired level of delay quality-of-service. For optimal performance tradeoff an appropriate objective function for delay-margin is required, which is obtained by employing sensitivity analysis. Sensitivity analysis is performed by incorporating delay-margin in the end-to-end delay constraints while penalizing its price in the objective function. For distributed realization of proposed cross-layer framework, the optimal tradeoff problem is decomposed into network lifetime, utility and delay-margin subproblems coupled through dual variables. The numerical results for performance evaluation show that compromising network utility does not guarantee both lifetime and delay-margin improvement, simultaneously, for the set of operating points. Performance evaluation results also reveal that the fairness among different delay-margins, corresponding to different source–destination node pairs, can be improved by relaxing the end-to-end delay threshold.     

A framework for delivering multicast messages in networks with mobile hosts

To accommodatemobile hosts (MHs) within existing data networks, the static network is augmented with mobile support stations (MSSs) that communicate directly with MHs, usually via wireless links. Connectivity of the overall network changes dynamically as MHs connect to the static network from different locations (MSSs) at different times. Compared to their desktop counterparts, mobile hosts face a new set of constraints namely, low bandwith of the wireless links, tight constraints on power consumption and a significantly lower computing capability. Thus, even without considering failures, integration of mobile computer within existing networks pose a new set of problems. In this paper, we look at the problems associated with delivering multicast meassages to mobile hosts. First, we identify how a mobile host's ability to connect to different MSSs at different times, affects delivery of multicast messages and present schemes to deliver multicast messages to MHs fromatleast-one location, fromatmost-one location, and fromexactly-one location. Next, we introduce multicast groups of mobile hosts wherein each multicast group is associated with a host view, a set of MSSs representing theaggregate location information of the group. A host-view membership algorithm is then presented and combined with the multicast scheme for exactly-once delivery. As a result, to deliver a multicast message to a specified group, copies of the message need be propagated only to the MSSs in the group's host-view.This work was done while the author was a graduate student at Rutgers University.This research work was supported in part by ARPA under contract number DAAH04-95-1-0596, NSF grant numbers CCR 95-09620, IRIS 95-09816 and sponsors of WINLAB.     

A cross-layer scheme for medium access control with QoS guaranteeing for Ad hoc networks

1 Introduction medium access control (MAC) protocols play a crucial role in determining the performance of Ad hoc networks. However, the design of MAC protocols for Ad hoc networks has traditionally been separated from that of the physical layer. In most …     

一种实用的DF协作无线传感器网络跨层设计

针对前向译码（DF）协作无线传感器网络的特点和要求,探讨基于分集合并和差错控制两种技术的实用跨层设计方案。首先,研究支持DF中继协议的协作传感器网络在目的节点采用等增益合并（EGC）的检测方案。通过和传统的最大比合并（MRC）方案以及最近提出的协作MRC方案综合比较,说明等增益合并是一个具有良好性能的实用方案。然后,把物理层的EGC和数据链路层的自动请求重传（ARQ）结合起来,再进行系统分析。最后,基于EGC和截断ARQ提出一种实用跨层设计方案。     

一种实用的DF协作无线传感器网络跨层设计

针对前向译码(DF)协作无线传感器网络的特点和要求,探讨基于分集合并和差错控制两种技术的实用跨层设计方案。首先,研究支持DF中继协议的协作传感器网络在目的节点采用等增益合并(EGC)的检测方案。通过和传统的最大比合并(MRC)方案以及最近提出的协作MRC方案综合比较,说明等增益合并是一个具有良好性能的实用方案。然后,把物理层的EGC和数据链路层的自动请求重传(ARQ)结合起来,再进行系统分析。最后,基于EGC和截断ARQ提出一种实用跨层设计方案。     

QoS multicast routing by using multiple paths/trees in wireless ad hoc networks

In this paper, we investigate the issues of QoS multicast routing in wireless ad hoc networks. Due to limited bandwidth of a wireless node, a QoS multicast call could often be blocked if there does not exist a single multicast tree that has the requested bandwidth, even though there is enough bandwidth in the system to support the call. In this paper, we propose a new multicast routing scheme by using multiple paths or multiple trees to meet the bandwidth requirement of a call. Three multicast routing strategies are studied, SPT (shortest path tree) based multiple-paths (SPTM), least cost tree based multiple-paths (LCTM) and multiple least cost trees (MLCT). The final routing tree(s) can meet the user’s QoS requirements such that the delay from the source to any destination node shall not exceed the required bound and the aggregate bandwidth of the paths or trees shall meet the bandwidth requirement of the call. Extensive simulations have been conducted to evaluate the performance of our three multicast routing strategies. The simulation results show that the new scheme improves the call success ratio and makes a better use of network resources.     

Optimised cross-layer synchronisation schemes for wireless sensor networks

This paper aims at synchronisation between the sensor nodes. Indeed, in the context of wireless sensor networks, it is necessary to take into consideration the energy cost induced by the synchronisation, which can represent the majority of the energy consumed. On communication, an already identified hard point consists in imagining a fine synchronisation protocol which must be sufficiently robust to the intermittent energy in the sensors. Hence, this paper worked on aspects of performance and energy saving, in particular on the optimisation of the synchronisation protocol using cross-layer design method such as synchronisation between layers. Our approach consists in balancing the energy consumption between the sensors and choosing the cluster head with the highest residual energy in order to guarantee the reliability, integrity and continuity of communication (i.e. maximising the network lifetime).