Link Characteristics Estimation For IEEE 802.docVIP

Link Characteristics Estimation For IEEE 802.11 DCF Based WLAN Abstract Knowledge of network path characteristics enables upper layers to improve performance through adaptation protocols which adjust behaviors according to current network path characteristics. As for a mobile node of wireless network, this knowledge is especially valuable because the characteristics of wireless link, which often dominate network path characteristics, change frequently and abruptly due to mobility, fading, and contention among nodes. Due to the dynamics and precious bandwidth of wireless link, the commonly used probing packet methods are not appropriate for estimating the characteristics of network path with wireless link. In this paper, we propose a new mechanism to estimate link characteristics of IEEE 802.11 DCF based Wireless LAN (WLAN), one of the most popular wireless access networks. Instead of sending probing-packets,mobile node estimates its link characteristics based on wireless link quality and contention status of the whole WLAN. We implement this mechanism and test its accuracy in NS2. 1. Introduction Network path characteristics are normally represented by the following metrics: ABW (available bandwidth), PLR (packet loss rate), RTT (Round Trip Time),and Delay Variation. Knowledge of network path characteristics can provide many enhancement opportunities to upper layers. For example, Rate-based streaming applications [1] can adjust coding scheme based on ABW to achieve optimal quality. TCP [2] can decide whether to enable SACK [3] according to PLR. Many algorithms have been proposed to estimate network path characteristics (especially ABW), such asDelphi [4], pathload [5], pathchar [6], and pathChirp [7],etc. They send probing-packets and deduce network path characteristics by analyzing delay experienced by these probing-packets. These algorithms are not appropriate when wireless link is used in network path. Firstly, probing-packets consume precious bandwidth o