1,187 research outputs found
Exploiting the power of multiplicity: a holistic survey of network-layer multipath
The Internet is inherently a multipath network: For an underlying network with only a single path, connecting various nodes would have been debilitatingly fragile. Unfortunately, traditional Internet technologies have been designed around the restrictive assumption of a single working path between a source and a destination. The lack of native multipath support constrains network performance even as the underlying network is richly connected and has redundant multiple paths. Computer networks can exploit the power of multiplicity, through which a diverse collection of paths is resource pooled as a single resource, to unlock the inherent redundancy of the Internet. This opens up a new vista of opportunities, promising increased throughput (through concurrent usage of multiple paths) and increased reliability and fault tolerance (through the use of multiple paths in backup/redundant arrangements). There are many emerging trends in networking that signify that the Internet's future will be multipath, including the use of multipath technology in data center computing; the ready availability of multiple heterogeneous radio interfaces in wireless (such as Wi-Fi and cellular) in wireless devices; ubiquity of mobile devices that are multihomed with heterogeneous access networks; and the development and standardization of multipath transport protocols such as multipath TCP. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive survey of the literature on network-layer multipath solutions. We will present a detailed investigation of two important design issues, namely, the control plane problem of how to compute and select the routes and the data plane problem of how to split the flow on the computed paths. The main contribution of this paper is a systematic articulation of the main design issues in network-layer multipath routing along with a broad-ranging survey of the vast literature on network-layer multipathing. We also highlight open issues and identify directions for future work
Interference charecterisation, location and bandwidth estimation in emerging WiFi networks
Wireless LAN technology based on the IEEE 802.11 standard, commonly referred
to as WiFi, has been hugely successful not only for the last hop access to the Internet
in home, office and hotspot scenarios but also for realising wireless backhaul in mesh
networks and for point -to -point long- distance wireless communication. This success
can be mainly attributed to two reasons: low cost of 802.11 hardware from reaching
economies of scale, and operation in the unlicensed bands of wireless spectrum.The popularity of WiFi, in particular for indoor wireless access at homes and offices,
has led to significant amount of research effort looking at the performance issues
arising from various factors, including interference, CSMA/CA based MAC protocol
used by 802.11 devices, the impact of link and physical layer overheads on application
performance, and spatio-temporal channel variations. These factors affect the performance
of applications and services that run over WiFi networks. In this thesis, we
experimentally investigate the effects of some of the above mentioned factors in the
context of emerging WiFi network scenarios such as multi- interface indoor mesh networks,
802.11n -based WiFi networks and WiFi networks with virtual access points
(VAPs). More specifically, this thesis comprises of four experimental characterisation
studies: (i) measure prevalence and severity of co- channel interference in urban WiFi
deployments; (ii) characterise interference in multi- interface indoor mesh networks;
(iii) study the effect of spatio-temporal channel variations, VAPs and multi -band operation
on WiFi fingerprinting based location estimation; and (iv) study the effects of
newly introduced features in 802.11n like frame aggregation (FA) on available bandwidth
estimation.With growing density of WiFi deployments especially in urban areas, co- channel
interference becomes a major factor that adversely affects network performance. To
characterise the nature of this phenomena at a city scale, we propose using a new measurement
methodology called mobile crowdsensing. The idea is to leverage commodity
smartphones and the natural mobility of people to characterise urban WiFi co- channel
interference. Specifically, we report measurement results obtained for Edinburgh, a
representative European city, on detecting the presence of deployed WiFi APs via the
mobile crowdsensing approach. These show that few channels in 2.4GHz are heavily
used and there is hardly any activity in the 5GHz band even though relatively it
has a greater number of available channels. Spatial analysis of spectrum usage reveals
that co- channel interference among nearby APs operating in the same channel
can be a serious problem with around 10 APs contending with each other in many locations. We find that the characteristics of WiFi deployments at city -scale are similar
to those of WiFi deployments in public spaces of different indoor environments. We
validate our approach in comparison with wardriving, and also show that our findings
generally match with previous studies based on other measurement approaches. As
an application of the mobile crowdsensing based urban WiFi monitoring, we outline a
cloud based WiFi router configuration service for better interference management with
global awareness in urban areas.For mesh networks, the use of multiple radio interfaces is widely seen as a practical
way to achieve high end -to -end network performance and better utilisation of
available spectrum. However this gives rise to another type of interference (referred to
as coexistence interference) due to co- location of multiple radio interfaces. We show
that such interference can be so severe that it prevents concurrent successful operation
of collocated interfaces even when they use channels from widely different frequency
bands. We propose the use of antenna polarisation to mitigate such interference and
experimentally study its benefits in both multi -band and single -band configurations. In
particular, we show that using differently polarised antennas on a multi -radio platform
can be a helpful counteracting mechanism for alleviating receiver blocking and adjacent
channel interference phenomena that underlie multi -radio coexistence interference.
We also validate observations about adjacent channel interference from previous
studies via direct and microscopic observation of MAC behaviour.Location is an indispensable information for navigation and sensing applications.
The rapidly growing adoption of smartphones has resulted in a plethora of mobile
applications that rely on position information (e.g., shopping apps that use user position
information to recommend products to users and help them to find what they want
in the store). WiFi fingerprinting is a popular and well studied approach for indoor
location estimation that leverages the existing WiFi infrastructure and works based on
the difference in strengths of the received AP signals at different locations. However,
understanding the impact of WiFi network deployment aspects such as multi -band
APs and VAPs has not received much attention in the literature. We first examine the
impact of various aspects underlying a WiFi fingerprinting system. Specifically, we
investigate different definitions for fingerprinting and location estimation algorithms
across different indoor environments ranging from a multi- storey office building to
shopping centres of different sizes. Our results show that the fingerprint definition
is as important as the choice of location estimation algorithm and there is no single
combination of these two that works across all environments or even all floors of a given environment. We then consider the effect of WiFi frequency bands (e.g., 2.4GHz
and 5GHz) and the presence of virtual access points (VAPs) on location accuracy with
WiFi fingerprinting. Our results demonstrate that lower co- channel interference in the
5GHz band yields more accurate location estimation. We show that the inclusion of
VAPs has a significant impact on the location accuracy of WiFi fingerprinting systems;
we analyse the potential reasons to explain the findings.End -to -end available bandwidth estimation (ABE) has a wide range of uses, from
adaptive application content delivery, transport-level transmission rate adaptation and
admission control to traffic engineering and peer node selection in peer -to- peer /overlay
networks [ 1, 2]. Given its importance, it has been received much research attention in
both wired data networks and legacy WiFi networks (based on 802.11 a/b /g standards),
resulting in different ABE techniques and tools proposed to optimise different criteria
and suit different scenarios. However, effects of new MAC/PHY layer enhancements
in new and next generation WiFi networks (based on 802.11n and 802.11ac
standards) have not been studied yet. We experimentally find that among different
new features like frame aggregation, channel bonding and MIMO modes (spacial division
multiplexing), frame aggregation has the most harmful effect as it has direct
effect on ABE by distorting the measurement probing traffic pattern commonly used
to estimate available bandwidth. Frame aggregation is also specified in both 802.11n
and 802.1 lac standards as a mandatory feature to be supported. We study the effect of
enabling frame aggregation, for the first time, on the performance of the ABE using an
indoor 802.11n wireless testbed. The analysis of results obtained using three tools -
representing two main Probe Rate Model (PRM) and Probe Gap Model (PGM) based
approaches for ABE - led us to come up with the two key principles of jumbo probes
and having longer measurement probe train sizes to counter the effects of aggregating
frames on the performance of ABE tools. Then, we develop a new tool, WBest+ that
is aware of the underlying frame aggregation by incorporating these principles. The
experimental evaluation of WBest+ shows more accurate ABE in the presence of frame
aggregation.Overall, the contributions of this thesis fall in three categories - experimental
characterisation, measurement techniques and mitigation/solution approaches for performance
problems in emerging WiFi network scenarios. The influence of various factors
mentioned above are all studied via experimental evaluation in a testbed or real - world setting. Specifically, co- existence interference characterisation and evaluation
of available bandwidth techniques are done using indoor testbeds, whereas characterisation of urban WiFi networks and WiFi fingerprinting based location estimation are
carried out in real environments. New measurement approaches are also introduced
to aid better experimental evaluation or proposed as new measurement tools. These
include mobile crowdsensing based WiFi monitoring; MAC/PHY layer monitoring of
co- existence interference; and WBest+ tool for available bandwidth estimation. Finally,
new mitigation approaches are proposed to address challenges and problems
identified throughout the characterisation studies. These include: a proposal for crowd - based interference management in large scale uncoordinated WiFi networks; exploiting
antenna polarisation diversity to remedy the effects of co- existence interference
in multi -interface platforms; taking advantage of VAPs and multi -band operation for
better location estimation; and introducing the jumbo frame concept and longer probe
train sizes to improve performance of ABE tools in next generation WiFi networks
EVA Radio DRATS 2011 Report
In the Fall of 2011, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center (GRC) participated in the Desert Research and Technology Studies (DRATS) field experiments held near Flagstaff, Arizona. The objective of the DRATS outing is to provide analog mission testing of candidate technologies for space exploration, especially those technologies applicable to human exploration of extra- terrestrial rocky bodies. These activities are performed at locations with similarities to extra-terrestrial conditions. This report describes the Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Dual-Band Radio Communication System which was demonstrated during the 2011 outing. The EVA radio system is designed to transport both voice and telemetry data through a mobile ad hoc wireless network and employs a dual-band radio configuration. Some key characteristics of this system include: 1. Dual-band radio configuration. 2. Intelligent switching between two different capability wireless networks. 3. Self-healing network. 4. Simultaneous data and voice communication
Techniques for Communication and Geolocation using Wireless Ad hoc Networks
Networks with hundreds of ad hoc nodes equipped with communication and position finding abilities are conceivable with recent advancements in technology. Methods are presented in this thesis to assess the communicative capabilities and node position estimation of mobile ad hoc networks. Specifically, we investigate techniques for providing communication and geolocation with specific characteristics in wireless ad hoc networks. The material presented in this thesis, communication and geolocation, may initially seem a collection of disconnected topics related only distantly under the banner of ad hoc networks. However, systems currently in development combining these techniques into single integrated systems. In this thesis first, we investigate the effect of multilayer interaction, including fading and path loss, on ad hoc routing protocol performance, and present a procedure for deploying an ad hoc network based on extensive simulations. Our first goal is to test the routing protocols with parameters that can be used to characterize the environment in which they might be deployed. Second, we analyze the location discovery problem in ad hoc networks and propose a fully distributed, infrastructure-free positioning algorithm that does not rely on the Global Positioning System (GPS). The algorithm uses the approximate distances between the nodes to build a relative coordinate system in which the node positions are computed in three-dimensions. However, in reconstructing three-dimensional positions from approximate distances, we need to consider error threshold, graph connectivity, and graph rigidity. We also statistically evaluate the location discovery procedure with respect to a number of parameters, such as error propagation and the relative positions of the nodes
Controlo de congestionamento em redes sem fios
Doutoramento em Engenharia ElectrotécnicaCongestion control in wireless networks is an important and open issue.
Previous research has proven the poor performance of the Transport
Control Protocol (TCP) in such networks. The factors that contribute
to the poor performance of TCP in wireless environments concern its
unsuitability to identify/detect and react properly to network events,
its TCP window based
ow control algorithm that is not suitable for
the wireless channel, and the congestion collapse due to mobility. New
rate based mechanisms have been proposed to mitigate TCP performance
in wired and wireless networks. However, these mechanisms
also present poor performance, as they lack of suitable bandwidth estimation
techniques for multi-hop wireless networks.
It is thus important to improve congestion control performance in wireless
networks, incorporating components that are suitable for wireless
environments. A congestion control scheme which provides an e -
cient and fair sharing of the underlying network capacity and available
bandwidth among multiple competing applications is crucial to the definition
of new e cient and fair congestion control schemes on wireless
multi-hop networks.
The Thesis is divided in three parts. First, we present a performance
evaluation study of several congestion control protocols against TCP,
in wireless mesh and ad-hoc networks. The obtained results show that
rate based congestion control protocols need an eficient and accurate
underlying available bandwidth estimation technique. The second part
of the Thesis presents a new link capacity and available bandwidth estimation
mechanism denoted as rt-Winf (real time wireless inference).
The estimation is performed in real-time and without the need to intrusively
inject packets in the network. Simulation results show that
rt-Winf obtains the available bandwidth and capacity estimation with
accuracy and without introducing overhead trafic in the network.
The third part of the Thesis proposes the development of new congestion
control mechanisms to address the congestion control problems
of wireless networks. These congestion control mechanisms use cross
layer information, obtained by rt-Winf, to accurately and eficiently estimate
the available bandwidth and the path capacity over a wireless
network path. Evaluation of these new proposed mechanisms, through
ns-2 simulations, shows that the cooperation between rt-Winf and the
congestion control algorithms is able to significantly increase congestion
control eficiency and network performance.O controlo de congestionamento continua a ser extremamente importante
quando se investiga o desempenho das redes sem fios. Trabalhos
anteriores mostram o mau desempenho do Transport Control Proto-
col (TCP) em redes sem fios. Os fatores que contribuem para um
pior desempenho do TCP nesse tipo de redes s~ao: a sua falta de capacidade
para identificar/detetar e reagir adequadamente a eventos da
rede; a utilização de um algoritmo de controlo de
uxo que não é adequado
para o canal sem fios; e o colapso de congestionamento devido
á mobilidade. Para colmatar este problemas foram propostos novos
mecanismos de controlo de congestionamento baseados na taxa de
transmissão. No entanto, estes mecanismos também apresentam um
pior desempenho em redes sem fios, já que não utilizam mecanismos
adequados para a avaliação da largura de banda disponível. Assim, é
importante para melhorar o desempenho do controlo de congestionamento
em redes sem fios, incluir componentes que são adequados para
esse tipo de ambientes. Um esquema de controlo de congestionamento
que permita uma partilha eficiente e justa da capacidade da rede e da
largura de banda disponível entre múltiplas aplicações concorrentes é
crucial para a definição de novos, eficientes e justos mecanismos de
controlo congestionamento para as redes sem fios.
A Tese está dividida em três partes. Primeiro, apresentamos um estudo
sobre a avaliação de desempenho de vários protocolos de controlo de
congestionamento relativamente ao TCP, em redes sem fios em malha
e ad-hoc. Os resultados obtidos mostram que os protocolos baseados
na taxa de transmissão precisam de uma técnica de avaliação da largura
de banda disponível que seja eficiente e precisa . A segunda parte da
Tese apresenta um novo mecanismo de avaliação da capacidade da
ligação e da largura de banda disponível, designada por rt-Winf (real
time wireless inference). A avaliação é realizada em tempo real e sem
a necessidade de inserir tráfego na rede. Os resultados obtidos através
de simulação e emulação mostram que o rt-Winf obtém com precisão
a largura de banda disponível e a capacidade da ligação sem sobrecarregar
a rede. A terceira parte da Tese propõe novos mecanismos de
controlo de congestionamento em redes sem fios. Estes mecanismos
de controlo de congestionamento apresentam um conjunto de caracter
ísticas novas para melhorar o seu desempenho, de entre as quais
se destaca a utilização da informação de largura de banda disponível
obtida pelo rt-Winf. Os resultados da avaliação destes mecanismos,
utilizando o simulador ns-2, permitem concluir que a cooperação entre
o rt-Winf e os algoritmos de controlo de congestionamento aumenta
significativamente o desempenho da rede
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