A wireless channel capacity model for quality of service

A key issue in supporting quality of service (QoS) over wireless networks is to estimate the wireless channel capacity that varies randomly with time and space. In this paper, we propose a new model named effective channel capacity to predict the available channel capacity during any given time interval with the required degree of confidence. By leveraging large deviations techniques, we relate the fading channel capacity with the theory of effective bandwidth and establish a connection between the theory of effective bandwidth and information theory. We derive a set of algorithms and apply them to Nakagami-m fading channels. Consequently, our results provide a foundation for the performance analysis of upper layer algorithms and protocols for QoS provisioning over wireless networks