QoS Support in Mobile, Multimedia Networks

Abstract

Rapidly deploy able wireless networks supporting multimedia traffic streams present a challenge in many dimensions. Some of the considerations involve mobility, changing topology, multihop transmissions, noisy channels, variable bandwidth, high error rates, real-time constraints, no central control and no existing infrastructure support. In this paper we review some of the key system design issues and then focus on network algorithms, more specifically MAC and network layer. For these layers, we propose extensions to existing protocols which permit the support of real time applications. The two key principles are: to identify resources in the wireless medium, which can be monitored, advertised, reserved and released, and; to design considerable adaptivity into the system so as to deal with this highly variable and unpredictable environment. Simulation results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed solutions in several representative scenarios.