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Summary: On Backoff in Fading Wireless Channels
SeonYeong Han and Nael B. Abu-Ghazaleh
Computer Science Dept.
State University of New York at Binghamton
and
School of Computer Science
Carnegie Mellon University - Qatar
{shan6@,nael@cs.}binghamton.edu
Abstract. We consider the impact of transmission errors on the backoff
algorithm behavior in the IEEE 802.11 protocol. Specifically, since the
backoff algorithm assumes that all packet losses are due to collisions, it
unnecessarily backs off when a packet is lost due to a transmission error.
Two performance problems arise as a result: (1) low throughput, due
to unnecessary loss of transmission time; and (2) unfairness when two
competing links have different transmission error rates. In this paper, we
characterize this problem and propose three solutions to it. The solutions
aim to provide discrimination between transmission errors and collisions
such that the sender can back off appropriately. The first algorithm relies
on receiver discrimination and feedback; the receiving radio can in many
instances differentiate between collisions and transmission errors. The
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