A Control Theoretic Framework for Performance Optimization of IEEE 802.11 Networks

In this paper we propose to model the behavior of a WLAN from a control theoretic perspective to achieve optimal performance in terms of e.g. throughput or delay. Control theory has been commonly used in industrial applications to provide the analytical tools for the design of closed-loop systems, in order to guarantee stable operation without lessening the ability to react to changes. We therefore propose to model a WLAN as a closed loop, where the controlled system is the wireless network and the controller is a module which adjusts the parameters of the WLAN based on the observed state of the network.