Markov Model Analytics of a Wireless Local Area Network Distributed Coordination Function

Abstract

The present day heterogeneous wireless system is a hybrid of cellular, Wireless
Local Area Network (WLAN) and Worldwide Interoperability Microwave
Exchange (WiMAX) networks. The influence of WLAN assisted in the spread of
the hybrid network to almost all facets of life cannot be over emphasized. The
WLAN which is considered to be the hub of the hybrid has issues with scaling when
the distribution coordination function (DCF) protocol in WLAN hotspot is used.
This suggests that the DCF hotspot has problem in handling multimedia packets.
Therefore, the DCF becomes the burden of this study. This work presents a robust
study of the DCF protocol by applying the simple one-dimensional Markov chain.
It formulates useful numerical expressions for computing the quality of service
(QoS) of the WLAN utilising three scenarios. Scenario one investigated the WLAN
that has infinite buffer storage capacity. A special case of a WLAN without buffer
was studied in the second scenario, while scenario three presented a case with a
limited buffer capacity. Equations representing nodes transmitting with equal
probabilities, the expected number of counter slots between transitions as well as
the probability that a backlogged station transmits in a random slot were
presented. The probabilistically stochastic model was utilized in determining the
collision, idle and transition probabilities, and the throughput of the WLAN DCF.