Meta-headers: Top-down networking architecture with application-specific constraints

The direction of cross-layer wireless research has been prominently bottom-up, i.e., optimizing higher layer protocols based on the characteristics of the underlying wireless communication medium. Though this approach has been essential for efficient use of scarce wireless connectivity and bandwidth, there is a recent trend for massive availability of wireless resources through initiatives such as municipal WiFi and community wireless. The key metric to optimize is becoming application utility rather than the wireless resources. This paradigm shift calls for top-down cross-layer designs in wireless protocols, where application-specific requirements can be reconciled. We introduce “meta-headers” vertically traveling across the network stack and enabling top-down optimizations in the architecture.