Rate Adaptation in Congested Wireless Networks through Real-Time Measurements

—Rate adaptation is a critical component that impacts the performance of IEEE 802.11 wireless networks. In congested networks, traditional rate adaptation algorithms have been shown to choose lower data-rates for packet transmissions, leading to reduced total network throughput and capacity. A primary reason for this behavior is the lack of real-time congestion measurement techniques that can assist in the identification of congestion related packet losses in a wireless network. In this work, we first propose two real-time congestion measurement techniques, namely an active probe-based method called Channel Access Delay, and a passive method called Channel Busy Time. We evaluate the two techniques in a testbed network and a large WLAN connected to the Internet. We then present the design and evaluation of Wireless cOngestion Optimized Fallback (WOOF), a rate adaptation scheme that uses congestion measurement to identify congestion related packet losses. Through simulation and testb...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2010
• Where: TMC
• Authors: Prashanth Aravinda Kumar Acharya, Ashish Sharma, Elizabeth M. Belding, Kevin C. Almeroth, Konstantina Papagiannaki
• Keywords: Congestion Measurement, Congestion Measurement Techniques, Real-time Congestion Measurement, TMC 2010