Modeling and Analysis of the TXOPLimit Efficiency with the Packet Fragmentation in an IEEE 802.11e-EDCA Network Under Noise-Related Losses

Analytical modeling and performance study of the Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) function of the IEEE 802.11e standard has been the topic of various works available in the literature. Nevertheless, the Packet Fragmentation (PF) conceived by the IEEE 802.11 work group for decreasing the effect of noise-related losses on the performances of IEEE 802.11 networks, has not at all been taken into account in the analytical models proposed for evaluating the performance of the Opportunity Transmission Limit (TXOPLimit), which is a key parameter of the EDCA function for a Differentiated Service in an IEEE 802.11e network. While, the PF can be employed with the TXOPLimit, in order to boost the efficiency of the Contention Free Burst of both Voice and Video streams under noise-related losses. In this paper, we aim at extending the Markov chain models proposed for the IEEE 802.11e-EDCA network, in order to especially model the TXOPLimit, the PF and the Packet Error Rate. Besides, we elaborate a mathematical model to compute the saturation throughput of Access Categories, Voice, Video, Best Effort and Background. The achieved numerical results indicate, for the first time that, the PF permits boosting the TXOPLimit efficiency under noise-related losses. Thus, the saturation throughputs of both Voice and Video access categories are substantially enhanced.