Cross-layer Analysis of Transport Control Protocols over IEEE 802.11 Wireless Networks

In this paper we provide cross-layer analysis of the impact of mobility and Medium Access Control parameters in IEEE 802.11 wireless network on TCP. Performances of the Internet transport protocols may significantly degrade when end to end connection includes wireless links where packets delays and losses are caused by mobility and transmission errors. We perform analysis of the achievable throughput for different TCP versions, including TCP Tahoe, TCP Reno, TCP New Reno, TCP Vegas and TCP SACK, in IEEE 802.11 wireless networks. The analysis showed that the impact of Medium Access Control parameters, such as number of retransmissions and interface queue length in 802.11 networks on the obtained throughput, is stronger for terminals with higher mobility. Also, the analysis contributed to detection of the most appropriate TCP protocols for different mobility of the users in IEEE 802.11 networks.