Analysis of link-layer backoff schemes on point-to-point Markov fading links

Backoff algorithms are typically employed in multiple-access networks (e.g., Ethernet) to recover from packet collisions. We propose and carry out the analysis for three types of link-layer backoff schemes, namely linear backoff, exponential backoff, and geometric backoff, on point-to-point wireless fading links where packet errors occur non-independently. In such a scenario, the backoff schemes are shown to achieve better energy efficiency without compromising much on the link layer throughput performance.     

Enhancing channel utilization by improving media access coordination in wireless local area networks

Distributed coordination function (DCF) is the basis protocol for IEEE 802.11 standard wireless local area networks. It is based on carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) mechanism. DCF uses backoff process to avoid collisions on the wireless channel. The main drawback with this process is that packets have to spend time in the backoff process which is an additional overhead in their transmission time. The channel is rendered idle when all the stations defer their transmissions due to their backoff process. Therefore, the channel utilization and the total throughput on the channel can be improved by reducing the average time spent by the packets in the backoff process. In this paper, we propose a new media access coordination function called proposed media access protocol (PMAP) that will improve the channel utilization for successful packet transmission and therefore, the total achievable throughput. In addition, we propose an analytical model for PMAP under saturated conditions. We use this model to analyze the performance of PMAP under saturated conditions. To substantiate the effectiveness of our model, we have verified the model by simulating PMAP in NS‐2. Simulation and analytical results show that under saturated conditions, PMAP shows profound improvement in the throughput performance compared to DCF. In addition, the throughput performance of PMAP under unsaturated conditions is presented. We have also presented the delay performance of PMAP and DCF through simulation in both saturated and unsaturated conditions. Simulation results show that the average delay experienced by the packets is less in PMAP compared to DCF. Further, the variance in the packet delay is same for both PMAP and DCF protocols under unsaturated conditions. From the performance results obtained for PMAP under both saturated and unsaturated conditions, it can be concluded that PMAP is superior in performance compared to DCF. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cross‐layer design for energy efficient communication in wireless sensor networks

There is a plethora of recent research on high performance wireless communications using a cross‐layer approach in that adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) schemes at wireless physical layer are used for combating time varying channel fading and enhance link throughput. However, in a wireless sensor network, transmitting packets over deep fading channel can incur excessive energy consumption due to the usage of stronger forwarding error code (FEC) or more robust modulation mode. To avoid such energy inefficient transmission, a straightforward approach is to temporarily buffer packets when the channel is in deep fading, until the channel quality recovers. Unfortunately, packet buffering may lead to communication latency and buffer overflow, which, in turn, can result in severe degradation in communication performance. Specifically, to improve the buffering approach, we need to address two challenging issues: (1) how long should we buffer the packets? and (2) how to choose the optimum channel transmission threshold above which to transmit the buffered packets? In this paper, by using discrete‐time queuing model, we analyze the effects of Rayleigh fading over AMC‐based communications in a wireless sensor network. We then analytically derive the packet delivery rate and average delay. Guided by these numerical results, we can determine the most energy‐efficient operation modes under different transmission environments. Extensive simulation results have validated the analytical results, and indicates that under these modes, we can achieve as much as 40% reduction in energy dissipation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Performance of Energy-Efficient Cooperative MAC Protocol with Power Backoff in MANETs

This paper presents an energy-efficient cooperative MAC (EECO-MAC) protocol using power control in mobile ad hoc networks. Cooperative communications improve network performance by taking full advantage of the broadcast nature of wireless channels. The power control technique improves the network lifetime by adjusting the transmission power dynamically. We propose the best partnership selection algorithm, which takes energy consumption into consideration for selection of the optimal cooperative helper to join in the transmission. Through exchanging control packets, the optimal transmission power is allocated for senders to transmit data packets to receivers. In order to enhance energy saving, space–time backoff and time–space backoff algorithms are proposed. Simulation results show that EECO-MAC consumes less energy and prolongs the network lifetime compared to IEEE 802.11 DCF and CoopMAC at the cost of delay. Performance improvement offered by our proposed protocol is apparent in congested networks where nodes have low and limited energy.     

Adaptive two-stage FEC scheme for scalable video transmission over wireless networks

In this paper, we present a two-stage forward error correction (FEC) scheme with an enhanced link-layer protocol especially for multimedia data transmission over wireless LANs. At the application layer, packet-level FEC (stage-one) is added across packets to correct packet losses due to congestion and route disruption. Bit-level FEC (stage-two) is then added to both application packets and stage-one FEC packets to recover bit errors from the link layer. Then at the link layer, header-CRC/FEC is used to enhance protection and to cooperate with the two-stage FEC scheme. The proposed scheme thus provides joint protection across the protocol stack. We explore both its bandwidth efficiency and video performance for the highly efficient and scalable MC-EZBC video codec using the network simulator ns-2. Our results show that the proposed scheme can effectively increase application-layer throughput, reduce both end-to-end transmission delay and application bandwidth fluctuation, and significantly improve video performance.     

Performance of a wireless access protocol on correlatedRayleigh-fading channels with capture

The throughput performance of a wireless media access protocol taking into account the effect of correlated channel fading, capture, and propagation delay is analyzed. For efficient access on the uplink (mobile-to-base-station link), the protocol makes use of the uplink channel status information which is conveyed to the mobiles through a busy/idle flag broadcast on the downlink (base-station-to-mobile link). A first-order Markov model is used to describe the correlation in the packet success/failure process on a Rayleigh-fading channel. The analytical results obtained through the first-order Markov approximation of the channel are compared to those obtained from an independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) channel model. The Markovian-fading channel model is shown to provide better performance results than the i.i.d. channel model. Simulations show that a first-order Markov approximation of the Rayleigh-fading process is quite accurate. An enhanced version of the access protocol to take advantage of the memory in the fading channel behavior is proposed and analyzed. The effect of retransmission of erroneous data packets and propagation delay on the throughput is also analyzed. It is shown that the access protocol with an error detect (ED) feature is efficient in slow fading (e.g., pedestrian user speeds), whereas a retransmission protocol is more efficient in fast fading (e.g., vehicular user speeds)     

Packet Transmission over a Fixed Wireless Loop Using Adaptive Rate Techniques

In this paper a rate-adaptive transmission scheme is used to ensure reliable and efficient transmission of packets over a fixed wireless link. The scheme is based on a stationary, memoryless, and block-fading channel model with perfect knowledge of channel fading state, available at transmitters. Information, in our proposed system, is transmitted in the form of packets that each may potentially consist of several conventional ATM cells along with a rate-identifier preamble that contains the information needed by a receiver, allowing for proper demodulation/decoding of packets. In this application, because of the short physical length of a radio link, a simple go-back-N ARQ protocol can provide a reliable communications system with an acceptable throughput. Analytical results for spectral efficiency, throughput and queuing delay show that adaptive-rate systems can achieve significant improvements over those using fixed-rate schemes.     

Effects of base doping and carrier lifetime on differential current gain and temperature coefficient of 4H-SiC power bipolar junction transistors

Considering the circumstance of heterogeneous voice flows, first, by applying Markov chain, this paper proposes an unsaturated analytical model for the IEEE 802.11e EDCA protocol, which considers the condition of non-ideal transmission channel and the character of the occurrence of backoff countdown at the beginning of time slot in EDCA protocol. Furthermore, according to the proposed model, the media access delay and throughput of a flow are analysed, and the flow-oriented call admission control (CAC) scheme is proposed. Finally, the simulation results are shown to confirm that the proposed CAC scheme can guarantee the requirements of throughput and delay of voice flows, and can admit more voice flows to improve the utilisation efficiency of network resources by choosing the appropriate values of the minimum contention window or the appropriate varieties of voice flows.     

Performance study of link layer and MAC layer protocols to support TCP in 3G CDMA systems

Providing support for TCP with good quality link connection is a key issue for future wireless networks in which Internet access is going to be one of the most important data services. A number of schemes have been proposed in literature to improve the TCP performance over wireless links. In this paper, we study the performance of a particular combination of link layer protocol (e.g., radio link protocol or RLP) and MAC retransmissions to support the TCP connections over third generation (3G) wireless CDMA networks. We specifically investigate two metrics - the packet error rate and the delay provided by RLP and MAC retransmissions - both of which are important for TCP performance. For independent and identically distributed (i.i.d) error channels, we propose an analytical model for RLP performance with MAC retransmission. The segmentation of TCP/IP packets into smaller RLP frames, as well as the RLP buffering process, is modeled using a Markov chain. For correlated fading channels, we introduce an analytical metric called RLP retransmission efficiency. We show that: 1) the RLP frame size has significant impact on the overall 3G system performance, 2) MAC layer retransmissions significantly improve the TCP performance, and 3) the RLP retransmission scheme performs better in highly correlated channels, while other scheme performs better in low correlated channels. Simulation results also confirm these conclusions.     

Performance Analysis of Network Coding Based Two-Way Relay Wireless Networks Deploying IEEE 802.11

In this paper, we investigate the performance analysis of the IEEE 802.11 DCF protocol at the data link layer. We analyze the impact of network coding in saturated and non-saturated traffic conditions. The cross-layer analytical framework is presented in analyzing the performance of the encode-and-forward (EF) relaying wireless networks. This situation is employed at the physical layer under the conditions of non-saturated traffic and finite-length queue at the data link layer. First, a model of a two-hop EF relaying wireless channel is proposed as an equivalent extend multi-dimensional Markovian state transition model in queuing analysis. Then, the performance in terms of queuing delay, throughput and packet loss rate are derived. We provide closed-form expressions for the delay and throughput of two-hop unbalanced bidirectional traffic cases both with and without network coding. We consider the buffers on nodes are unsaturated. The analytical results are mainly derived by solving queuing systems for the buffer behavior at the relay node. To overcome the hidden node problem in multi hop wireless networks, we develop a useful mathematical model. Both models have been evaluated through simulations and simulation results show good agreement with the analytical results.     

An efficient network coded ARQ for multisource multidestination relay networks over mixed flat fading channels

This paper proposes a new reliable automatic repeat request (ARQ) transmission protocol for wireless multisource multidestination relay networks over mixed fading channels. Conventional application of ARQ protocols to retransmit lost or erroneous packets in relay networks can cause considerable delay latency with a significant increase in the number of retransmissions when networks consist of multiple sources and multiple destinations. To address this issue, a new ARQ protocol based on network coding (NC) is proposed where the relay detects packets from different transmission sources, then uses NC to combine and forward lost packets to their destinations. An efficient means for the retransmission of all lost packets is proposed through two packet-combination algorithms for retransmissions at the relay and sources. The paper derives mathematical formulation of transmission bandwidth for this new NC-based ARQ protocol and compares analytical and simulation results with some other ARQ protocols over both mixed Rayleigh and Rician flat fading channel. The mixed fading model permits investigation of two typical fading scenarios where the relay is located in the neighbourhood of either the sources or the destinations. The transmission bandwidth results show that the proposed NC-based ARQ protocol demonstrates superior performance over other existing ARQ schemes.     

基于预警优先级的ZigBee传感网络MAC层退避算法

针对无线传感器网络中有预警信息的高优先级数据包需要尽快传输,且IEEE 802.15.4协议本身不支持任何优先级传输机制的情况,提出了一种基于预警优先级的非时隙CSMA/CA自适应调整阶梯退避算法,并建立了离散时间马尔可夫分析模型,比较分析了网络中不同优先级节点的信道接入概率、网络吞吐量和传输延时,仿真结果表明,本文改进的自适应调整阶梯退避机制对提高无线传感器网络中高优先级数据包的实时传输性能具有积极的作用。     

An integrated voice/data system for mobile indoor radio networks

A centralized, integrated voice/data radio network for fading multipath indoor radio channels is proposed and analyzed. The packets of voice and data are integrated through a movable boundary method. The uplink channel access uses a framed-polling protocol whereas the downlink uses a time-division multiple-access (TDMA) scheme. This system dynamically switches between two transmission rates and uses multiple antennas to maximize the throughput in the fading multipath indoor environment. Throughput and delay characteristics of the system are analyzed using four different techniques. The results are compared with those of Monte Carlo computer simulations. A simple relationship between the number of voice terminals and the throughput of the data traffic are derived for an upper bound of 10-ms delay for the data packets     

Energy–delay tradeoff in wireless multihop networks with unreliable links

Energy efficiency and transmission delay are very important parameters for wireless multihop networks. Numerous works that study energy efficiency and delay are based on the assumption of reliable links. However, the unreliability of channels is inevitable in wireless multihop networks. In addition, most of works focus on self-organization protocol design while keeping non-protocol system parameters fixed. While, very few works reveal the relationship between the network performance and these physical parameters, in other words, the best networks performance could be obtained by the physical parameters. This paper investigates the tradeoff between the energy consumption and the latency of communications in a wireless multihop network using a realistic unreliable link model. It provides a closed-form expression of the lower bound of the energy–delay tradeoff and of energy efficiency for different channel models (additive white Gaussian noise, Rayleigh fast fading and Rayleigh block-fading) in a linear network. These analytical results are also verified in 2-dimensional Poisson networks using simulations. The closed-form expression provides a framework to evaluate the energy–delay performance and to optimize the parameters in physical layer, MAC layer and routing layer from the viewpoint of cross-layer design during the planning phase of a network.     

On MAC optimization for large-scale wireless sensor network

The media access control (MAC) performance of a large-scale wireless sensor network (L-WSN) determines the efficiency of the wireless communication channel. A good MAC protocol could reduce network energy consumption and network delay, which are two problems to be solved urgently in L-WSN. In this paper, we proposed a multi-level integrated MAC protocol (MI-MAC) to solve the overall performance optimization problem of L-WSN. Compared with other protocols, MI-MAC has two mainly improved performances: (1) It improved binary exponential backoff algorithm by twice back off strategy; (2) It designed a sending and receiving algorithm based on the threshold value to recognize control frames (small frames), which effectively avoids the collision probability of data frame. The simulation results show that the MI-MAC protocol improves network throughput and delay performance, significantly reduces energy consumption, and obtains overall network optimization.     

Adaptive cross-layer MAC design for improved energy-efficiency in multi-channel wireless sensor networks

We present a novel cross-layer design for improving energy efficiency in a wireless sensor network that utilizes a multi-channel non-persistent CSMA MAC protocol with adaptive MQAM modulation at the physical layer. Cross-layer interactions are achieved through joint, traffic-dependent adaptation of the backoff probability at the MAC layer and the modulation order at the physical layer. The joint optimization of the backoff probability and the modulation order is conducted subject to a constraint on the packet retransmission delay. Such an optimization is shown to produce a significant improvement in the per-bit energy requirement for successful packet delivery. Our analytical findings are verified through numerical results and computer simulations.     

Performance evaluation of a CDMA protocol for voice and dataintegration in personal communication networks

Future wireless personal communication networks (PCN's) will require voice and data service integration on the radio link. The multiaccess capability of the code-division multiple-access (CDMA) technique has been widely investigated in the recent literature. The aim of this paper is to propose a CDMA-based protocol for joint voice and data transmissions in PCN's. The performance of such a protocol has been derived by means of an analytical approach both in terms of voice packet dropping probability and mean data packet delay. Voice traffic has been modeled as having alternated talkspurts and silences, with generation of voice packets at constant rate during talkspurts and no packet generation during silence gaps. A general arrival process is assumed for the data traffic. However, numerical results are derived in the case of a Poisson process. Simulation results are given to validate our analytical predictions. The main result derived here is that the proposed CDMA-based protocol efficiently handles both voice and data traffic. In particular, it is shown that the performance of the voice subsystem is independent of the data traffic     

VoIP transmission mechanism based on TCP

As the widespread employment of firewalls on the Internet, user datagram protocol (UDP) based voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) system will be unable to transmit voice data. This paper proposed a novel method to transmit voice data based on transmission control protocol (TCP). The method adopts a disorder TCP transmission strategy, which allows discontinuous data packets in TCP queues read by application layer directly without waiting for the retransmission of lost data packets. A byte stream data boundary identification algorithm based on consistent overhead byte stuffing algorithm is designed to efficiently identify complete voice data packets from disordered TCP packets arrived so as to transmit the data to the audio processing module timely. Then, by implementing the prototype system and testing, we verified that the proposed algorithm can solve the high time delay, jitter and discontinuity problems in standard TCP protocol when transmitting voice data packets, which caused by its error control and retransmission mechanism. We proved that the method proposed in this paper is effective and practical.     

Enhanced binary exponential backoff algorithm for fair channel access in the ieee 802.11 medium access control protocol

The medium access control protocol determines system throughput in wireless mobile ad hoc networks following the ieee 802.11 standard. Under this standard, asynchronous data transmissions have a defined distributed coordination function that allows stations to contend for channel usage in a distributed manner via the carrier sensing multiple access with collision avoidance protocol. In distributed coordination function, a slotted binary exponential backoff (BEB) algorithm resolves collisions of packets transmitted simultaneously by different stations. The BEB algorithm prevents packet collisions during simultaneous access by randomizing moments at stations attempting to access the wireless channels. However, this randomization does not eliminate packet collisions entirely, leading to reduced system throughput and increased packet delay and drop. In addition, the BEB algorithm results in unfair channel access among stations. In this paper, we propose an enhanced binary exponential backoff algorithm to improve channel access fairness by adjusting the manner of increasing or decreasing the contention window based on the number of the successfully sent frames. We propose several configurations and use the NS2 simulator to analyze network performance. The enhanced binary exponential backoff algorithm improves channel access fairness, significantly increases network throughput capacity, and reduces packet delay and drop. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Contention resolution in random-access wireless networks based on orthogonal complementary codes

This paper proposes a new method for contention resolution in random-access wireless networks. Using orthogonal complementary codes to design access-request packets, users can reserve channel access successfully, even in severe contentions. Collisions among access-request packets can be resolved and exploited, whereas collisions among data packets are avoided. System throughput and delay performance can be enhanced, because random-access contention becomes transparent. Specifically, system throughput approaches the offered load up to the maximum value one with improved average packet delay performance. A joint layer design approach is proposed with both the physical layer signal-detection algorithm and the medium access-control layer random-access protocol. The performance is analyzed with the consideration of signal detection errors. Simulations are performed to demonstrate its superior performance.