Throughput analysis of GTS allocation in beacon enabled IEEE 802.15.4

IEEE 802.15.4 defines the physical layer and medium access control sub-layer specifications for low-data-rate wireless connectivity devices with very limited battery consumption requirements typically operating in the personal operating space. Unlike traditional wireless networks, its unique characteristics, such as low-data-rate and guaranteed time slots (GTS), have brought unprecedented challenges in the area of Quality of Service (QoS) research. Based on the OPNET Modeler, IEEE 802.15.4 simulation model is proposed for studying the data throughput of the allocated GTS, impacted by the super-frame order (SO), the arrival data rate and the buffer capacity. The result shows that, for low arrival data rates and low buffer capacities, high SO values are not suitable for ensuring efficient usage of the GTS in terms of data throughput.