Performance evaluation of WLAN for mutual interaction between unicast and multicast communication sessions

Abstract

In this Thesis, performance evaluation of wireless local area networks (WLANs) is conducted to understand the effects of mutual interaction between real-time unicast and multicast communication sessions. The analysis extends the performance evaluation of WLAN from the isolated study of unicast or multicast sessions to their mutual interaction. The nature of multicast session is VoIP, whereas the unicast sessions are VoIP and a single video flow. The performance of unicast and multicast sessions is investigated by simulations for experienced quality of service. The reliability concerns of simulator performance are addressed by verifying the simulator against an experimental setup. It takes into account the Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical (PHY) layer parameters and the probability of collision for increasing number of sessions. The analysis environment is a single WLAN cell where the sessions are mobile. The mobility of the sessions is mapped with a proposed group mobility model whose statistical properties are studied via simulations. The performance results obtained with the sessions' mobility are compared with those of static sessions and sessions moving according to the Random Waypoint (RWP) mobility model