Estimating throughput available to a node in wireless ad-hoc network

Abstract

We propose a new technique to estimate the throughput available to a wireless node in a multi-hop network. Our technique exploits the nearly linear relationship between throughput at a node and the channel occupancy contributed by that node. It provides estimates of available throughput on the basis of local measurements and neighbourhood information available locally at a node. This technique allows timely and non-intrusive estimation without active probing. It is shown by simulations that this new technique provides robust estimates of the throughput available to a node in an ad hoc network environment characterised by numerous active neighbours and dependencies between the levels of node activity along a multi-hop path.