Quality-of-service measurement in wireless networks
Kevin A. Brown · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 1998
Wireless LANs, CDPD, and microcellular data networks are fast becoming the preferred method of access to the Internet. Wireless links supporting end-user mobility, however, exhibit several characteristics that are different from traditional wired networks. These include: dynamically changing bandwidth due to mobile host movement in and out of cells where bandwidth is shared, high rates of packet corruption and subsequent loss, and frequent and lengthy disconnections due to obstacles, fading, and movement between cells. In addition, these effects are short-lived and difficult to reproduce, leading to a need for adequate measurement and analysis tools and for feedback utilities to allow the mobile user to respond to changes in wireless link quality.