Configuring Beaconless IEEE 802.15.4 Networks Under Different Traffic Loads

IEEE 802.15.4, a MAC/PHY protocol for low power and low data rate wireless networks, is emerging as the popular choice for various monitoring and control applications. Depending on the application, the traffic load on an IEEE 802.15.4 network may vary over a wide range. Hence, proper configuration is important for successful operation of the protocol under given traffic load conditions. In this paper, we examine the impact of different configuration parameters: namely, macMinBE, macMaxBE and macMaxCSMABackoffs, on the performance of beaconless IEEE 802.15.4 networks. The performance is measured in terms of the packet loss probability and the packet latency as the traffic load on the network increases. Based on this analysis, we suggest IEEE 802.15.4 configuration that results in a good tradeoff between the packet loss probability and the packet latency for a given traffic load range. This analysis is based on ns2 simulations.