Worst-case delay control in multigroup overlay networks

This paper proposes a novel and simple adaptive control algorithm for the effective delay control and resource utilization of end host multicast (EMcast) when the traffic load becomes heavy in a multigroup network with real-time flows constrained by (sigma, rho) regulators. The control algorithm is implemented at the overlay networks and provides more regulations through a novel (sigma, rho, lambda) regulator at each group end host who suffers from heavy input traffic. To our knowledge, it is the first work to incorporate traffic regulators into the end host multicast to control heavy traffic output. Our further contributions include a theoretical analysis and a set of results. We prove the existence and calculate the value of the rate threshold rho* such that for a given set of K groups, when the average rate of traffic entering the group end hosts rho macr > rho*, the ratio of the worst-case multicast delay bound of the proposed (sigma, rho, lambda) regulator over the traditional (sigma, rho) regulator is O(1/Kn) for any integer n. We also prove the efficiency of the novel algorithm and regulator in decreasing worst-case delays by conducting computer simulations

Adaptive intelligent middleware architecture for mobile real-time communications

Provision of instantaneous, mobile and dependable communications in military and safety-critical scenarios must overcome certain wireless network issues: lack of reliable existing infrastructure, immutability of mission-critical protocols and detrimental wireless dynamics with contributing factors including hidden transmitters and fading channels. Benchmarked approaches do not fully meet these challenges, due to reliance on addressing Quality of Service (QoS) at a layer-specific level rather than taking a system of systems approach. This paper presents an adaptive middleware methodology to provide timely MANET communications through predictive selection and dynamic contention reduction, without invasive protocol modification. This is done using ROAM, the proposed, novel Real-time Optimised Ad hoc Middleware based architecture. Extensive simulation results demonstrate the adaptability and scalability of the architecture as well as capability to bound maximum delay, jitter and packet loss in complex and dynamic MANETs

Effective Delay Control for High Rate Heterogeneous Real-time Flows

This paper presents a new method to control the delay performance for high rate heterogeneous real-time traffic flows based on a novel traffic control algorithm which is a generalization of traditional (σ, ρ) regulator. Our new control algorithm operates like the traditional regulator under the normal loading situation, but provides more regulation for the high rate (heavy load condition) of the traffic. For a set of heterogenous real-time traffic flows R, we can show that Dr(R) ≤ D(R) where Dr(R) and D(R) are the worst-case delay bounds with our new control algorithm and that with (σ, ρ) regulator, respectively. More specifically, we develop a set of formula that can be used to set the parameters in our new traffic controller so that the worst case delay bound is minimized by streaming the traffic flow. We can prove that there exists a minimum (average) input rate ρ ∗ such that Dr(R) = D(R) for ρ ≤ ρ ∗ and Dr(R) < D(R) for ρ> ρ ∗. Using the extended regulator can effectively control the delay when the average heterogeneous traffic rate is high. The issues are particularly useful for Integrated Services where a flow may over claim its share of resource and for Differentiated Services where a class of traffic flows may posses very high rates.

Effective Delay Control for High Rate Heterogeneous Real-time Flows

This paper presents a new method to control the delay performance for high rate heterogeneous realtime traffic flows based on a novel traffic control algorithm which is a generalization of traditional (#, #) regulator. Our new control algorithm operates like the traditional regulator under the normal loading situation, but provides more regulation for the high rate (heavy load condition) of the traffic. For a set of heterogenous real-time traffic flows R, we can show that D r (R) D(R) where D r (R) and D(R) are the worst-case delay bounds with our new control algorithm and that with (#, #) regulator, respectively. More specifically, we develop a set of formula that can be used to set the parameters in our new traffic controller so that the worst case delay bound is minimized by streaming the traffic flow. We can prove that there exists a minimum (average) input rate # # such that D r (R) = D(R) for # # # and D r (R) < D(R) for # > # # . Using the extended regulator can effectively control the delay when the average heterogeneous traffic rate is high. The issues are particularly useful for Integrated Services where a flow may over claim its share of resource and for Differentiated Services where a class of traffic flows may posses very high rates. We have conducted extensive experiments and # The work is partially supported by Research grant council (RGC) Hong Kong, SAR China under grant Nos CityU 1055/00E (9040687) and CityU 1039/02E (9040596). H. Wang and M. Tang were partially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (19971072) and CityU strategic grant no. 7001355

A cross-layer middleware architecture for time and safety critical applications in MANETs

Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANETs) can be deployed instantaneously and adaptively, making them highly suitable to military, medical and disaster-response scenarios. Using real-time applications for provision of instantaneous and dependable communications, media streaming, and device control in these scenarios is a growing research field. Realising timing requirements in packet delivery is essential to safety-critical real-time applications that are both delay- and loss-sensitive. Safety of these applications is compromised by packet loss, both on the network and by the applications themselves that will drop packets exceeding delay bounds. However, the provision of this required Quality of Service (QoS) must overcome issues relating to the lack of reliable existing infrastructure, conservation of safety-certified functionality. It must also overcome issues relating to the layer-2 dynamics with causal factors including hidden transmitters and fading channels. This thesis proposes that bounded maximum delay and safety-critical application support can be achieved by using cross-layer middleware. Such an approach benefits from the use of established protocols without requiring modifications to safety-certified ones. This research proposes ROAM: a novel, adaptive and scalable cross-layer Real-time Optimising Ad hoc Middleware framework for the provision and maintenance of performance guarantees in self-configuring MANETs. The ROAM framework is designed to be scalable to new optimisers and MANET protocols and requires no modifications of protocol functionality. Four original contributions are proposed: (1) ROAM, a middleware entity abstracts information from the protocol stack using application programming interfaces (APIs) and that implements optimisers to monitor and autonomously tune conditions at protocol layers in response to dynamic network conditions. The cross-layer approach is MANET protocol generic, using minimal imposition on the protocol stack, without protocol modification requirements. (2) A horizontal handoff optimiser that responds to time-varying link quality to ensure optimal and most robust channel usage. (3) A distributed contention reduction optimiser that reduces channel contention and related delay, in response to detection of the presence of a hidden transmitter. (4) A feasibility evaluation of the ROAM architecture to bound maximum delay and jitter in a comprehensive range of ns2-MIRACLE simulation scenarios that demonstrate independence from the key causes of network dynamics: application setting and MANET configuration; including mobility or topology. Experimental results show that ROAM can constrain end-to-end delay, jitter and packet loss, to support real-time applications with critical timing requirements