Queueing analysis and delay mitigation in IEEE 802.11 random access MAC based wireless networks

• Published in: IEEE INFOCOM 2004 Vol. 2; pp. 1404 - 1413 vol.2
• Main Authors: Tickoo, O., Sikdar, B.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Piscataway, New Jersey IEEE 2004
• Subjects: Access methods and protocols, osi model; Applied sciences; Delay effects; Exact sciences and technology; Intelligent networks; Operation, maintenance, reliability; Probability; Proposals; Queueing analysis; Switching and signalling; Systems engineering and theory; Systems, networks and services of telecommunications; Telecommunication traffic; Telecommunications; Telecommunications and information theory; Teleprocessing networks. Isdn; Teletraffic; Traffic control; USA Councils; Wireless networks; Access control; Packet switching; Probabilistic approach; Wireless telecommunication; Teletraffic; Queue length; Simulation; Queueing system; Traffic management; Analytical method; Discrete time; Traffic control; Random access; Delay time; Service quality
• ISBN: 0780383559; 9780780383555
• ISSN: 0743-166X; 2641-9874
• DOI: 10.1109/INFCOM.2004.1357025

We present an analytic model for evaluating the queueing delays at nodes in an IEEE 802.11 MAC based wireless network. The model can account for arbitrary arrival patterns, packet size distributions and number of nodes. Our model gives closed form expressions for obtaining the delay and queue length characteristics. We model each node as a discrete time G/G/1 queue and derive the service time distribution while accounting for a number of factors including the channel access delay due to the shared medium, impact of packet collisions, the resulting backoffs as well as the packet size distribution. The model is also extended for ongoing proposals under consideration for 802.11e wherein a number of packets may be transmitted in a burst once the channel is accessed. Our analytical results are verified through extensive simulations. The results of our model can also be used for providing probabilistic quality of service guarantees and determining the number of nodes that can be accommodated while satisfying a given delay constraint.