Cross-Layer Design Optimization for Quality of Service Enhancement in IEEE 802.11 Wireless Mesh Networks

International Journal of Computer Science and Technology | Vol. 10, No. 12, December 2008 | pp. 89–96

DOI: 10.46882/2008/IJCST/101221

Research Article

Title: Cross-Layer Design Optimization for Quality of Service Enhancement in IEEE 802.11 Wireless Mesh Networks

Names of Authors: Youssef A. Mansour¹, Fatima Z. Al-Alawi¹

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman

Abstract: Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) based on the standard IEEE 802.11 architecture face deployment limitations in urban centers due to packet collisions, link degradation, and unfair medium access allocations. Traditional decoupled network layers prevent transmission parameters from adapting to real-time channel dynamics. This research proposes a cross-layer design framework that optimizes interactions between the Medium Access Control (MAC) and network routing layers. The architecture introduces a Channel-Aware Dynamic Contention Window (CADC) algorithm that adjusts backoff parameters based on real-time bit error rates (BER) and routing queue lengths. Simultaneously, the routing protocol selects paths using a hybrid Expected Transmission Time (ETT) metric. Network simulations run via NS-2 showed that this cross-layer approach increased total throughput by 31.4% and minimized end-to-end delay variances down to 14.5 ± 2.1 milliseconds under heavily loaded scenarios. The packet drop ratio decreased by an average of 18.2%, ensuring high Quality of Service (QoS) delivery for real-time traffic profiles.

Keywords: Wireless mesh networks, cross-layer design, Quality of Service, MAC layer optimization, routing metrics, NS-2 simulation

Manuscript Timeline: Received September 10, 2008; Revised October 24, 2008; Accepted November 19, 2008; Published December 12, 2008

Citation: Mansour, Y. A., & Al-Alawi, F. Z. (2008). Cross-Layer Design Optimization for Quality of Service Enhancement in IEEE 802.11 Wireless Mesh Networks. International Journal of Computer Science and Technology, 10(12), 89–96.

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