Thesis (M.E.)--University of Canterbury, 2008. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (p. 83-86). Also avialable via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.Eng.(Electronic Engineering)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Summaries in Afrikaans and English. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-66).

Thesis (M.Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 112-122).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--City University of Hong Kong, 2009. / "Submitted to Department of Computer Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 100-108)

Broadband wireless access (BWA) is a promising emerging technology. In the past, most BWA systems were based on proprietary implementations. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16 task group recently standardized the physical (PHY) and medium-access control (MAC) layers for BWA systems. To operate in a wide range of physical channel conditions, the standard defines a robust and flexible PHY. A wide range of modulation and coding schemes are defined. While the standard provides a framework for implementing link adaptation, it does not define how exactly adaptation algorithms should be developed. This thesis develops a link adaptation algorithm for the IEEE 802.16 standard's WirelessMAN air interface. This algorithm attempts to minimize the end-to-end delay in the system by selecting the optimal PHY burst profile on the air interface. The IEEE 802.16 standard recommends measuring C/(N+I) at the receiver to initiate a change in the burst profile, based on the comparison of the instantaneous the C/(N+I) with preset C/(N+I) thresholds. This research determines the C/(N+I) thresholds for the standard specified channel Type 1. To determine the precise C/(N+I) thresholds, the end-to-end(ETE) delay performance of IEEE 802.16 is studied for different PHY burst profiles at varying signal-to-noise ratio values. Based on these performance results, we demonstrate that link layer ETE delay does not reflect the physical channel condition and is therefore not suitable for use as the criterion for the determination of the C/(N+I) thresholds. The IEEE 802.16 standard specifies that ARQ should not be implemented at the MAC layer. Our results demonstrate that this design decision renders the link layer metrics incapable of use in the link adaptation algorithm. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) delay is identified as a suitable metric to serve as the link quality indicator. Our results show that buffering and retransmissions at the transport layer cause ETE TCP delay to rise exponentially below certain SNR values. We use TCP delay as the criterion to determine the SNR entry and exit thresholds for each of the PHY burst profiles. We present a simple link adaptation algorithm that attempts to minimize the end-to-end TCP delay based on the measured signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The effects of Internet latency, TCP's performance enhancement features and network traffic on the adaptation algorithm are also studied. Our results show that delay in the Internet can considerably affect the C/(N+I) thresholds used in the LA algorithm. We also show that the load on the network also impacts the C/(N+I) thresholds significantly. We demonstrate that it is essential to characterize Internet delays and network load correctly, while developing the LA algorithm. We also demonstrate that TCP's performance enhancement features do not have a significant impact on TCP delays over lossy wireless links. / Master of Science

<p> Wireless metropolitan area networking based on IEEE 802.16 is expected to be widely used for creating wide-area wireless backhaul networks, where each subscriber station (SS) is responsible for forwarding traffic for a number of connections. Quality of Service (QoS) provisioning is an important aspect in such networks. The IEEE 802.16 standard specifies that the bandwidth requests sent by the SS are for individual connections and pass only the number of bytes requested from each connection. This is inefficient for backhaul networks where each SS may be responsible for forwarding packets for a relatively large number of connections and the bandwidth request messages consume much bandwidth unnecessarily. Furthermore, the standard does not include latency information, which makes it difficult for the base station (BS) to schedule real-time traffic. </p> <p> In this thesis we study real-time voice traffic support in IEEE 802.16-based backhaul networks. We propose a simple enhancement to the bandwidth request mechanism in 802.16 for supporting packet voice traffic. First, the SS combines the bandwidth requests of multiple voice connections, which are associated to it and have the same traffic parameters, and aggregates the bandwidth requests to the BS. This makes the bandwidth request process more efficient by saving transmission time of both the BS and the SSs. Second, in order to facilitate the BS to make resource allocation decisions, the aggregate bandwidth requests include information about the latency requirements of buffered real-time packets at the SSs. We propose three different bandwidth request and packet scheduling schemes, each of which requires a different amount of information in the bandwidth requests. Our results show that the proposed bandwidth request and scheduling schemes achieve significantly lower packet loss probability than standard 802.16 bandwidth requests and weighted round robin. The results further show that there is an optimum point about how much delay information the SS should report to the BS in order to best utilize the uplink resources while providing satisfactory real-time performance for the voice traffic. </p> / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

The IEEE 802.16 standard also known as WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a promising technology responsible for providing wireless broadband access to end users, fixed, mobile and with high-rate data transmission. The main feature provided by this standard to end users is the provision of quality of service (QoS - Quality of Service) through scheduling mechanisms, connection admission control (CAC - Connection Admission Control) and policing in both the base station (BS - Base station) and the subscriber station (SS - Subscriber Station). As these mechanisms are not defined by IEEE 802.16 and directly affect the performance of WiMAX networks, a considerable number of studies focusing on these topics has been proposed in the areas of scheduling and CAC. In this context it is proposed and evaluated in this work a mechanism for traffic policing based on the token bucket technique for controlling data flow generated by the stations in the network. The traffic policing mechanism is applied to all classes of IEEE 802.16d standard. A temporary storage queue was added to the proposed mechanism in order to offer to the packages of nrtPS and BE classes, which were not admitted to the network transmission at the first opportunity, a new chance of being admitted. Results based on modeling and simulation showed that the proposed policing mechanism has satisfactory performance. / O padrão IEEE 802.16, também conhecido como WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), é uma tecnologia promissora responsável por oferecer acesso banda larga sem fio para usuários finais, fixos, móveis e com alta taxa de transmissão de dados. A principal característica fornecida por este padrão aos usuários finais é o provimento de qualidade de serviço (QoS - Quality of Service) através de mecanismos de escalonamento, controle de admissão de conexões (CAC - Control Admission Connection) e policiamento tanto na estação base (BS - Base Station) quanto na estação do assinante (SS - Subscriber Station). Como esses mecanismos não são definidos pelo padrão IEEE 802.16 e afetam diretamente o desempenho das redes WiMAX, um número considerável de pesquisas focalizando estes tópicos tem sido propostas. Neste contexto é proposto e avaliado nesta dissertação um mecanismo de policiamento de tráfego para o tráfego uplink baseado na técnica token bucket para controlar o fluxo de dados gerado pelas estações presentes na rede. O mecanismo de policiamento de tráfego é aplicado a todas as classes do padrão IEEE 802.16d. Uma fila de espera foi adicionada ao mecanismo proposto com o objetivo de oferecer aos pacotes das classes nrtPS e BE, que não foram admitidos na rede na primeira oportunidade de transmissão, uma nova possibilidade de serem admitidos. Os resultados obtidos, baseados em modelagem e simulação, permitiram concluir que o mecanismo de policiamento proposto apresenta desempenho satisfatório. / Mestre em Ciências

網路使用率逐漸普及、傳輸技術的進步以及通訊網路蓬勃發展，提供人們許多生活上的便利，無線網路已經成為現代通訊市場上的新寵兒。其中，IEEE於1999年開始制定與修正WiMAX，此協定在無線網路的應用視為解決”最後一哩”接取問題的利器。然而，無線網路仍舊會遇到傳送訊號耗弱、通訊死角或是氣候干擾等種種原因造成傳輸失敗的問題。 MPEG-4編碼上，考慮影音封包具有不同重要性的意義，針對影音封包需制定不同的重傳機制，本研究先行改善WiMAX中ARQ（Auto Repeat Request）的流程，再利用跨層設計使得MAC層可以辨識影音封包資訊，確保GOP-tree中之＂骨幹＂節點穩定的抵達率，再利用Lagrange’s Method of Multiplier方法，針對GOP-tree中非骨幹部分提出合適的trade-off客製化。最後本研究藉由網路模擬器NS-2(Network Simulater ver. 2)與myEvalvid-NT的實驗架構，做不同效能的評比，並以PSNR值評估所提出之方法的有效性。 / The growing of network popularity, progressing of trasmission technology and development of communication network have facilitated our daily life these years. Wireless network has become a new favor at modern communication market. Among of them, IEEE has started to design and modify specification of WiMAX since 1999, which has been thought to be the solution toward “last mile”. But, there still exist problems such as Doppler effect, blind corner of communication and obstruction of weather condition, which cause the failure of communication. MPEG-4 coding would concern the different significances of distinct types of packets, we should define retransmission strategies for different multimedia packets, respectively. Firstly, we improve the process of ARQ(Auto Repeat reQuest). Secondly, we use MAC-centric design to distinguish multimedia packets and guarantee the arrival rate of packets in the “backbone nodes” of a group of pictures tree. Thirdly, Lagrange’s Method of Multiplier is used to customize the trade-off of “non-backbone node”. In the end, we have performance evaluations by NS-2(Network Simulator ver. 2) and myEvalvid-NT, to verify the efficiency of the proposed method using Peak Signal to Noise Ratio.

Esta dissertação apresenta o desempenho da camada física de um sistema de comunicação sem fio baseado no padrão IEEE 802.16-2004 (WiMAX-fixo), em diferentes configurações e condições de operação. Para este propósito, foi elaborado um simulador da camada física WirelessMAN-OFDM implementado com o uso do aplicativo MATLAB® (versão R2008b) e de sua extensão SIMULINK®. Foram modeladas sete formas distintas para o canal de propagação, associando três tipos básicos de canal (sem desvanecimento, com desvanecimento seletivo e não seletivo em freqüência), duas configurações de mobilidade (sem mobilidade e mobilidade parcial) e duas condições para o ambiente de propagação (externo e interno). A propagação com desvanecimentos causados por multi-percursos empregou as especificações do ITU (International Telecommunications Union), fornecendo uma representação satisfatória de ambientes urbanos macro-celulares e possibilitando a comparação com outros sistemas de comunicação sem fio. Por meio da análise comparativa da taxa de erro de bit e da taxa de transferência efetiva de dados, estudou-se o desempenho dos esquemas de codificação e modulação especificados e a ação do controle adaptativo. O comportamento do WiMAX-fixo quando sujeito a perdas de propagação por multi-percursos e a condições de utilização caracterizadas por aplicações fixas e, adicionalmente, para aplicações parcialmente móveis, foi também avaliado. Assim, essa pesquisa permitiu uma visão complementar do padrão o que possibilitou a determinação de valores customizados para os níveis de SNR empregados no controle adaptativo, além da determinação das capacidades obteníveis nas condições de mobilidade parcial. / This thesis presents the physical layer performance of a wireless communications system based on the IEEE 802.16-2004 standard (fixed-WiMAX), in different configurations and operation conditions. For this purpose, a simulator of WirelessMAN-OFDM physical layer was designed and implemented using MATLAB® application (version R2008b) and its extension SIMULINK®. Seven different profiles for the propagation channel have been modeled, involving three basic types of channel (without fading, frequency-flat fading and frequency selective-fading), two mobility settings (without mobility and partial mobility) and two propagation environment conditions (outdoor and indoor). ITU (International Telecommunications Union) specifications were used for multipath fading propagation, providing a satisfactory representation of urban macro-cellular environments and allowing comparison with other wireless communication systems. Through comparative analysis of bit error rate and throughput, the performance of the specified modulation and coding schemes and the action of adaptive control were evaluated. The behavior of the fixed-WiMAX when subjected to a propagation environment with multipath fading and utilization conditions characterized by stationary applications and by partially mobile applications was also exploited. This research allowed a complementary vision of the standard which enabled the determination of customized values for the SNR levels employed in adaptive control, and furthermore the determination of the obtainable capacity under conditions of partial mobility.

Esta dissertação apresenta o desempenho da camada física de um sistema de comunicação sem fio baseado no padrão IEEE 802.16-2004 (WiMAX-fixo), em diferentes configurações e condições de operação. Para este propósito, foi elaborado um simulador da camada física WirelessMAN-OFDM implementado com o uso do aplicativo MATLAB® (versão R2008b) e de sua extensão SIMULINK®. Foram modeladas sete formas distintas para o canal de propagação, associando três tipos básicos de canal (sem desvanecimento, com desvanecimento seletivo e não seletivo em freqüência), duas configurações de mobilidade (sem mobilidade e mobilidade parcial) e duas condições para o ambiente de propagação (externo e interno). A propagação com desvanecimentos causados por multi-percursos empregou as especificações do ITU (International Telecommunications Union), fornecendo uma representação satisfatória de ambientes urbanos macro-celulares e possibilitando a comparação com outros sistemas de comunicação sem fio. Por meio da análise comparativa da taxa de erro de bit e da taxa de transferência efetiva de dados, estudou-se o desempenho dos esquemas de codificação e modulação especificados e a ação do controle adaptativo. O comportamento do WiMAX-fixo quando sujeito a perdas de propagação por multi-percursos e a condições de utilização caracterizadas por aplicações fixas e, adicionalmente, para aplicações parcialmente móveis, foi também avaliado. Assim, essa pesquisa permitiu uma visão complementar do padrão o que possibilitou a determinação de valores customizados para os níveis de SNR empregados no controle adaptativo, além da determinação das capacidades obteníveis nas condições de mobilidade parcial. / This thesis presents the physical layer performance of a wireless communications system based on the IEEE 802.16-2004 standard (fixed-WiMAX), in different configurations and operation conditions. For this purpose, a simulator of WirelessMAN-OFDM physical layer was designed and implemented using MATLAB® application (version R2008b) and its extension SIMULINK®. Seven different profiles for the propagation channel have been modeled, involving three basic types of channel (without fading, frequency-flat fading and frequency selective-fading), two mobility settings (without mobility and partial mobility) and two propagation environment conditions (outdoor and indoor). ITU (International Telecommunications Union) specifications were used for multipath fading propagation, providing a satisfactory representation of urban macro-cellular environments and allowing comparison with other wireless communication systems. Through comparative analysis of bit error rate and throughput, the performance of the specified modulation and coding schemes and the action of adaptive control were evaluated. The behavior of the fixed-WiMAX when subjected to a propagation environment with multipath fading and utilization conditions characterized by stationary applications and by partially mobile applications was also exploited. This research allowed a complementary vision of the standard which enabled the determination of customized values for the SNR levels employed in adaptive control, and furthermore the determination of the obtainable capacity under conditions of partial mobility.