Cross-Layer Architectures for Bandwidth Management in Wireless Networks
Klara Nahrstedt, Samarth H. Shah, Kai Chen · Kluwer Academic Publishers eBooks · 2006
Bandwidth is a scarce and variable resource in all types of wireless networks. Tracking the available bandwidth and having all applications using the wireless channel adapt their quality of service (QoS) to the available bandwidth is a complex procedure. It requires several adjustments at each layer of the OSI protocol stack. Moreover, the procedures at each layer of the stack must co-operatively interact with those at the other to ensure maximum satisfaction for users. In this survey, we picked six approaches that each adopt such a cross-layer approach towards monitoring and adapting to the variable channel capacity. We briefly described the salient features of the six architectures and compared and contrasted the methods they employ at each layer of the protocol stack. We also give our views on future directions in cross-layer design for bandwidth management in wireless networks.