A Prioritized Access Point Algorithm for 802.11b Networks in a Lossy Environment

TL;DR

This paper investigates IEEE 802.11b network performance in lossy environments through simulations and introduces a channel-aware backoff algorithm for Access Points to improve throughput and delay.

Contribution

It proposes a novel channel-aware backoff algorithm for Access Points to prioritize transmissions in lossy environments, enhancing network performance.

Findings

The proposed algorithm improves throughput by 49% on average.

The algorithm reduces delay by 83% on average.

Performance gains are significant in bursty error conditions.

Abstract

In recent years, WLAN technology has been gaining popularity around the world with its sub standard 802.11b receiving major deployments in many indoor and outdoor environments. In this article we investigate the performance of IEEE 802.11b infrastructure networks in the lossless and lossy environments by means of a simulation study. Also, this study shows how the FIFO discipline of the 802.11b MAC affects on the global performance when at least one channel is under the influence of the bursty errors. Furthermore, this paper proposes a channel aware backoff algorithm for the Access Point (AP) to prioritize its transmissions and to accelerate the transmissions in the poor radio channels to enhance the performance of the real time applications. The final results of this simulation study showed that the proposed algorithm is able to enhance the throughput and the delay in lossy environment by an average of 49% and 83% respectively.