Performance Analysis of IEEE 802.15.4 Non-Beacon Mode Where Downlink Data Packets Are Transmitted by Piggyback Method

We analyze the MAC performance of the IEEE 802.15.4 non-beacon mode where both uplink and downlink traffic flows are executed simultaneously and downlink data packets are transmitted by piggyback method. To build the mathematical model of the stochastic behavior of a device with both uplink and downlink traffic flows, we combine the Markov chain model for the uplink transmission in T.O. Kim et al (2006) and one for the downlink transmission in T.O. Kim et al (2006), so that performance measures (e.g., uplink packet delay and downlink packet delay) are influenced each other. We obtain performance measures such as throughput, packet delay, packet loss probability and average energy consumption per one slot of a device. Numerical results and simulation results show that the piggyback method can reduce the packet delay, packet loss probability and energy consumption compared with those of backoff method.