On loss rate measurement at receivers over wireless access links

Abstract

In hybrid wired/wireless networks, high bit error rate on wireless link brings problem of over-estimation of loss rate to those protocols requiring loss rate measurement. To eliminate this problem, this paper proposes a scheme to distinguish the bit error induced random loss from congestion loss at receivers over wireless links. A new metric of "variation on forward-path delay" is introduced to track the change on the network congestion level and be the criterion for the distinguishing between the random loss and congestion loss. Extensive simulation results show that our scheme distinguishes random loss from congestion loss effectively, and thus helps the receiver measure the loss rate accurately.