A fuzzy-based QoS Maximization protocol for WiFi Multimedia (IEEE 802.11e) Ad hoc Networks

Abstract

The Quality of Service (QoS) management within a multiple-traffic Wi-Fi MultiMedia (WMM) ad hoc network is a tedious task, since each traffic type requires a well determined QoS-level. For this reason, the IEEE Working Group has proposed the IEEE 802.11e Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) protocol at the MAC layer of WMM ad hoc networks. However, several studies have shown that EDCA must be further improved for three main reasons. The first reason is the poor performance of EDCA under high traffic conditions due to the high collision rate. The second reason is the need to maximize the traffic performance (delay, throughput, etc.) guaranteed by EDCA, seen the rapid evolution of the applications (multimedia, real time, etc.). The third reason is the need to maximize the energy efficiency of the EDCA, seen its use in battery constrained devices (e.g. Laptop, Smart phone, Tablet computers, etc.). For these three reasons, we propose in this paper a Three-in-One solution MAC protocol called QoS Maximization of EDCA (QM-EDCA), which is an enhanced version of EDCA. Based on the fuzzy logic mathematic theory, QM-EDCA incorporates a dynamic MAC parameters fuzzy logic system, in order to adapt dynamically the Arbitration inter frame Spaces according to the network state and remaining energy. Simulation results show that QM-EDCA outperforms EDCA by reducing significantly the collision rate, and maximizing traffic performance and energy-efficiency. In addition our solution is fully distributed.