A distributed self-clocked fair queueing architecture for wireless ATM networks

The application of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) to a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) environment is a new undertaking and poses many problems not found in either wireline ATM or data-only WLAN networks. The WLAN is designed as a centralized network, where a complex base station polls simpler remote stations. A polling algorithm called Distributed Fair Queueing (DFQ) is developed from the Self-Clocked Fair Queueing (SCFQ) service discipline. The DFQ protocol allows SCFQ performance in a wifeless LAN environment where queue information is not automatically available to the poller. Bounds for delay for certain services are derived explicitly, and other services are shown to be derivable from Fair Queueing theory. A reasonable service mix is simulated to show delay performance versus system load.