Analytical model of RLP in IS-2000 CDMA networks

Wireless data networks rely on link layer protocols to reduce relatively high frame error rates (FER) at the physical layer. One of the questions in wireless data networks design is how persistent a link-layer should be in performing retransmissions. This paper investigates this problem in the example of cdma2000 networks that employ the radio link protocol type 3 (RLP) for reducing physical layer FER. We develop an analytical model describing RLP transmission delay, residual FER and data throughput as a function of physical layer FER. We show how the model can be used to determine the dependency of TCP and RLP throughput on various RLP configuration parameters and to minimize RF cost. Model predictions are shown to agree with simulation results and were successfully applied to improving performance of a cdma2000 system.