Algorithmic Protocol and Network Configuration Selection for WLAN Performance Optimization Conditioned by Service Mix

This thesis has established a new algorithm to analyse both the real-time and the best-effort services of the different IEEE 802.11 technologies to describe the optimal networking architecture among Basic Service Set (BSS), Extended Service Set (ESS) or Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS).A ranking of the IEEE 802.11 technologies is provided by the proposed algorithm.

This is empirical research that involves modelling techniques and numerical data analysis, as well as a list of case studies and observations to address the reliability of WLAN optimization. This thesis provides an overview of five applications (VoIP, Video Conferencing, HTTP, FTP and Email) of differing proportions for three spatial distributions (Circular, Random, Uniform) as a research study. The stand-alone application refers to configurations and the implementations are all specific to a single application for that design. Mixed applications refer to a variety of services that are running and configured at predefined percentages in those specific scenarios. The algorithm has been implemented for various room sizes between 2x3 m and 10x14 m and the number of nodes varying between one and sixty-five. Delay, jitter, throughput, and packet loss are the Quality of Service (QoS) metrics used. Moreover, it fulfils the VoIP, Video Conferencing, HTTP, FTP and E-mail metrics acceptance threshold values.

A detailed review of existing methods showed that the optimal efficiency of IEEE technologies deployed in real-time industrial wireless communication is not always assured by modern technology (802.11n) as opposed to older technology (802.11 g).Furthermore, each IEEE 802.11 technology has its unique physical design and different parameters settings, such as Contention Window (CW), Transmission Opportunity (TXOP) and each standard in the 802.11 family has its strengths and weaknesses, which is precisely why this research offers an analysis report that recommends an optimal technology and network configuration for the user/client without wasting resources or getting involved in blindly selecting different technologies and then redesigning the whole system.

This research involves a range of variables and generates a list of choices for the client. A trade-off between speed and cost is likely to take place. It is not the case that clients should always select the highest data rate because it can be too expensive for them. What they want to see is the cost-performance data so that they can select a service at rates that they are able to accept at a price they are willing to pay.

The ultimate use of the results of this research leads to the development of a web-based tool linked to the results of this study, which uses a database generated by a comprehensive collection of system simulations to objectively select an acceptable wireless protocol based on user requirements. Algorithm results' feedback that been received from users includes universities, colleges, architect/engineer groups, and academics/students using the WPNAS algorithm shows that 61% of respondents prefer mixed services as suitable for their use. For the most portion, 27.2% favoured 40 VOIP services. While 39% of users preferred stand-alone services, the highest implementation rate was 23.8% for VoIP services. Furthermore, because participants adopted this category at a rate of 31.2%, the third group of nodes (11-21) is the most popularly used.

The novelty of the work described in this research is illustrated by the nature of the framework/algorithm and the ability to implement a method of network performance analysis to achieve the most efficient network configuration based on currently available technologies. In addition, to define which IEEE technology and network architecture can be applied for potential online applications and services. The usability of this algorithm/website tool has been evaluated using a system usability scale (SUS). The average SUS score for the WPNAS web tool is 82.2, which is higher than the average usability (68).Besides, the internal reliability of the questionnaire for this analysis is 0.74, which demonstrates respectable internal consistency. Furthermore, the usability and learning derived from this assessment are 84.9 and 73.3, respectively.

Five different services (applications) were evaluated and analysed under various factors, such as spatial distribution, number of nodes and network architectures. A novel algorithm was developed to evaluate best-effort services such as HTTP, FTP, E-mail and real-time services such as VoIP and VC across different IEEE 802.11 technologies, while various QoS metrics were used and studied in the development of this algorithm. Namely; delay, jitter, throughput, packet loss, download response time, and page response time. The aim of this research is to construct many scenarios in order to rank the current IEEE 802.11 standards for stand-alone and mixed applications by inventing a coefficient of importance for the metric parameters of each application.