An analysis of the heterogeneity and IP packet reordering over multiple wireless networks

Abstract—With the increasing deployment of wireless technologies, such as WLAN, HSDPA, and WiMAX, it is often the case that simultaneous coverage of several access networks is available to a single user device. In addition, devices are also often equipped with multiple network interfaces. Thus, if we can exploit all available network interfaces at the same time, we can obtain advantages like the aggregation of bandwidth and increased fault tolerance. However, the heterogeneity and dynamics of the links also introduce challenges. Due to different link delays, sending packets of the same flow over multiple heterogeneous paths causes the reordering of packets. In this paper, we quantify the impact of network heterogeneity and the use of multiple links on IP packet reordering. We show with practical measurements, according to commonly used metrics, that packet reordering over multiple links exceeds the reordering caused by common connections in high-speed, widearea networks. We also dem...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2009
• Where: ISCC
• Authors: Dominik Kaspar, Kristian Evensen, Audun Fosselie Hansen, Paal Engelstad, Pål Halvorsen, Carsten Griwodz
• Keywords: Communications, ISCC 2009, Multiple Links, Network Interfaces, Packet Reordering