Radio link control-acknowledged mode protocol performance modeling in UMTS

In this paper, we analyze the performance of the RLC (radio link control) layer in acknowledged mode (AM) in UMTS. In a third generation wireless network like UMTS, the RLC-AM protocol is used to transfer data reliably across the radio access network. With an automatic repeat request (ARQ) mechanism, this protocol is able to provide error correction and in-sequence delivery of IP packets. First, we analytically study the behavior of this link layer when reordering is disabled. Then, we present a simple simulation model for in-sequence delivery, easy to implement and able to capture the main characteristics of the RLC protocol. Theoretical and simulation results are compared in order to prove that a very simple simulation model can behave almost exactly like the RLC layer in UMTS.