Application Delay Modelling for Variable Length Packets in Single Cell IEEE 802.11 WLANs

TL;DR

This paper models the average delay of variable length application packets in a single cell IEEE 802.11 WLAN, deriving a closed-form expression and validating it through simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analytical model for packet delay considering variable packet lengths and contention in IEEE 802.11 WLANs, validated by extensive simulations.

Findings

Derived a closed-form delay expression for variable length packets

Validated analytical model with simulation results

Provides insights into delay behavior in WLANs

Abstract

In this paper, we consider the problem of modelling the average delay experienced by an application packets of variable length in a single cell IEEE 802.11 DCF wireless local area network. The packet arrival process at each node i is assumed to be a stationary and independent increment random process with mean ai and second moment a(2) i . The packet lengths at node i are assumed to be i.i.d random variables Pi with finite mean and second moment. A closed form expression has been derived for the same. We assume the input arrival process across queues to be uncorrelated Poison processes. As the nodes share a single channel, they have to contend with one another for a successful transmission. The mean delay for a packet has been approximated by modelling the system as a 1-limited Random Polling system with zero switchover times. Extensive simulations are conducted to verify the analytical results.