Design and performance evaluation of a distributed contention control (DCC) mechanism for IEEE 802.11 wireless local area networks

This paper focuses on the design and performance evaluation of a new mechanism, named Distributed Contention Control (DCC), for the adaptive contention reduction in LAN networks that utilize random access MAC protocols. The proposed mechanism could be executed on the top of a preexistent access protocol, with no additional overhead introduced. Specifically, we consider the IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN (WLAN). The DCC mechanism requires a simple and rough estimate of the contention level, and this can be achieved by estimating any parameter, directly connected with the amount of contention on the shared channel. The main characteristics of the proposed mechanism are represented by its simplicity, integration with the Standard, complete distribution, absence of overheads, and prompt reaction to changes in the network congestion. The protocol automatically adapts to the network congestion by monitoring the channel contention level through the estimation of the contention parameter. In this paper we show that the information needed for the contention estimation is already available to a 802.11 station, with no additional costs. Simulation experiments to evaluate the performance of an IEEE 802.11 WLAN, with and without the DCC mechanism, have been carried out. Results confirmed the effectiveness of the DCC mechanism in improving the performance, stability, and congestion reaction of the IEEE 802.11 access scheme. The DCC mechanism also provides a simple way to implement a distributed priority mechanism.