3rd International ICST Conference on Quality of Service in Heterogeneous Wired/Wireless Networks

Research Article

Evaluation of throughput estimation models and algorithms for WLAN frequency planning

  • @INPROCEEDINGS{10.1145/1185373.1185431,
        author={Timo Vanhatupa and Marko  H\aa{}nnik\aa{}inen and Timo D. H\aa{}m\aa{}l\aa{}inen},
        title={Evaluation of throughput estimation models and algorithms for WLAN frequency planning},
        proceedings={3rd International ICST Conference on Quality of Service in Heterogeneous Wired/Wireless Networks},
        publisher={ACM},
        proceedings_a={QSHINE},
        year={2006},
        month={8},
        keywords={},
        doi={10.1145/1185373.1185431}
    }
    
  • Timo Vanhatupa
    Marko Hännikäinen
    Timo D. Hämäläinen
    Year: 2006
    Evaluation of throughput estimation models and algorithms for WLAN frequency planning
    QSHINE
    ACM
    DOI: 10.1145/1185373.1185431
Timo Vanhatupa1,2,*, Marko Hännikäinen1,2, Timo D. Hämäläinen1,2
  • 1: Tampere University of Technology, Institute of Digital and Computer Systems
  • 2: Korkeakoulunkatu 1, FI-33720 Tampere, Finland.
*Contact email: timo.vanhatupa@tut.fi

Abstract

Frequency optimization is required to maximize the WLAN throughput in environments where several networks coexist. This paper evaluates four throughput estimation models and two optimization algorithms. Throughput is selected as the optimization criteria for channel assignment. Thus, the result of a throughput estimation model is used as an input for an optimization algorithm. The target is a frequency plan that maximizes multi-cell WLAN throughput. The throughput estimation models are based on radio spectrum usage, practical throughput measurements, WLAN protocol behavior, and theoretical coverage estimations. The models use separate functions for defining the minimum channel distance. In the evaluation, Genetic Algorithm (GA) and a distributed optimization algorithm produce the final frequency plan. A dedicated simulator has been implemented for the evaluation. As overall results, the evaluated throughput estimation models did not produce significant WLAN throughput improvements compared to each other. Still, the selection of the throughput estimation model and optimization algorithm pair is significant for results, since certain combinations cause poor results.