43,861 research outputs found
Delay Performance and Mixing Times in Random-Access Networks
We explore the achievable delay performance in wireless random-access
networks. While relatively simple and inherently distributed in nature,
suitably designed queue-based random-access schemes provide the striking
capability to match the optimal throughput performance of centralized
scheduling mechanisms in a wide range of scenarios. The specific type of
activation rules for which throughput optimality has been established, may
however yield excessive queues and delays.
Motivated by that issue, we examine whether the poor delay performance is
inherent to the basic operation of these schemes, or caused by the specific
kind of activation rules. We derive delay lower bounds for queue-based
activation rules, which offer fundamental insight in the cause of the excessive
delays. For fixed activation rates we obtain lower bounds indicating that
delays and mixing times can grow dramatically with the load in certain
topologies as well
Delay performance in random-access grid networks
We examine the impact of torpid mixing and meta-stability issues on the delay
performance in wireless random-access networks. Focusing on regular meshes as
prototypical scenarios, we show that the mean delays in an toric
grid with normalized load are of the order . This
superlinear delay scaling is to be contrasted with the usual linear growth of
the order in conventional queueing networks. The intuitive
explanation for the poor delay characteristics is that (i) high load requires a
high activity factor, (ii) a high activity factor implies extremely slow
transitions between dominant activity states, and (iii) slow transitions cause
starvation and hence excessively long queues and delays. Our proof method
combines both renewal and conductance arguments. A critical ingredient in
quantifying the long transition times is the derivation of the communication
height of the uniformized Markov chain associated with the activity process. We
also discuss connections with Glauber dynamics, conductance and mixing times.
Our proof framework can be applied to other topologies as well, and is also
relevant for the hard-core model in statistical physics and the sampling from
independent sets using single-site update Markov chains
Temporal starvation in multi-channel CSMA networks: an analytical framework
In this paper we consider a stochastic model for a frequency-agile CSMA
protocol for wireless networks where multiple orthogonal frequency channels are
available. Even when the possible interference on the different channels is
described by different conflict graphs, we show that the network dynamics can
be equivalently described as that of a single-channel CSMA algorithm on an
appropriate virtual network. Our focus is on the asymptotic regime in which the
network nodes try to activate aggressively in order to achieve maximum
throughput. Of particular interest is the scenario where the number of
available channels is not sufficient for all nodes of the network to be
simultaneously active and the well-studied temporal starvation issues of the
single-channel CSMA dynamics persist. For most networks we expect that a larger
number of available channels should alleviate these temporal starvation issues.
However, we prove that the aggregate throughput is a non-increasing function of
the number of available channels. To investigate this trade-off that emerges
between aggregate throughput and temporal starvation phenomena, we propose an
analytical framework to study the transient dynamics of multi-channel CSMA
networks by means of first hitting times. Our analysis further reveals that the
mixing time of the activity process does not always correctly characterize the
temporal starvation in the multi-channel scenario and often leads to
pessimistic performance estimates.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication at IFIP Performance
Conference 201
Queue-Based Random-Access Algorithms: Fluid Limits and Stability Issues
We use fluid limits to explore the (in)stability properties of wireless
networks with queue-based random-access algorithms. Queue-based random-access
schemes are simple and inherently distributed in nature, yet provide the
capability to match the optimal throughput performance of centralized
scheduling mechanisms in a wide range of scenarios. Unfortunately, the type of
activation rules for which throughput optimality has been established, may
result in excessive queue lengths and delays. The use of more
aggressive/persistent access schemes can improve the delay performance, but
does not offer any universal maximum-stability guarantees. In order to gain
qualitative insight and investigate the (in)stability properties of more
aggressive/persistent activation rules, we examine fluid limits where the
dynamics are scaled in space and time. In some situations, the fluid limits
have smooth deterministic features and maximum stability is maintained, while
in other scenarios they exhibit random oscillatory characteristics, giving rise
to major technical challenges. In the latter regime, more aggressive access
schemes continue to provide maximum stability in some networks, but may cause
instability in others. Simulation experiments are conducted to illustrate and
validate the analytical results
Fair Coexistence of Scheduled and Random Access Wireless Networks: Unlicensed LTE/WiFi
We study the fair coexistence of scheduled and random access transmitters
sharing the same frequency channel. Interest in coexistence is topical due to
the need for emerging unlicensed LTE technologies to coexist fairly with WiFi.
However, this interest is not confined to LTE/WiFi as coexistence is likely to
become increasingly commonplace in IoT networks and beyond 5G. In this article
we show that mixing scheduled and random access incurs and inherent
throughput/delay cost, the cost of heterogeneity. We derive the joint
proportional fair rate allocation, which casts useful light on current LTE/WiFi
discussions. We present experimental results on inter-technology detection and
consider the impact of imperfect carrier sensing.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, journa
A critical look at power law modelling of the Internet
This paper takes a critical look at the usefulness of power law models of the
Internet. The twin focuses of the paper are Internet traffic and topology
generation. The aim of the paper is twofold. Firstly it summarises the state of
the art in power law modelling particularly giving attention to existing open
research questions. Secondly it provides insight into the failings of such
models and where progress needs to be made for power law research to feed
through to actual improvements in network performance.Comment: To appear Computer Communication
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