MBE: Model-Based Available Bandwidth Estimation for IEEE 802.11 Data Communications

Wireless bandwidth estimation is a critical issue for quality-of-service (QoS) provisioning in IEEE 802.11 wireless local area networks (WLANs). Current bandwidth estimation solutions focus on either probing techniques or cross-layer techniques and require either significant bandwidth resources or protocol modifications. To alleviate these problems, this paper proposes an analytical model-based bandwidth estimation algorithm (MBE) for multimedia services over IEEE 802.11 networks. The MBE module for available bandwidth estimation is developed based on novel transmission control protocol/user datagram protocol throughput models for wireless data communications. The novel aspects in comparison with other works include the fact that no probing traffic is required and that no modification of medium access control (MAC) protocol is needed. Extensive simulations and real tests were performed, demonstrating that MBE has very good bandwidth estimation results for content delivery in conditions with different packet sizes, dynamic wireless link rate, and different channel noises. Additionally, MBE has lower overhead and lower error rate than other state-of-the-art bandwidth estimation techniques.