Resequencing Analysis for Time-Varying and Time- Invariant Channels Using ARQ Protocols

In a parallel multichannel data communication system the stop-and-wait Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) protocol for parallel channels with an in-sequence delivery guarantee is used for error control. Under the assumption that all channels have the same transmission rate but possibly different time-invariant error rates, we evaluate the probability generating function of the resequencing buffer occupancy and the probability mass function of the resequencing delay. Then, by assuming the Gilbert–Elliott model for each channel the probability mass functions of the resequencing buffer occupancy and the resequencing delay for time-invariant channels are computed. From numerical and simulation results, the mean resequencing buffer occupancy and the mean resequencing delay as functions of system parameters are analyzed. The modeling technique and analytical approach used in this paper can be applied to the performance evaluation of other ARQ protocols over multiple time-varying channels.