In recent years, a significant amount of research has been conducted to explore the benefits of network coding in different scenarios, from both theoretical and simulation perspectives. In this paper, we utilize queueing theory to propose an analytical framework for bidirectional unicast flows in multi-hop wireless mesh networks, and study throughput of inter-flow network coding. We analytically determine performance metrics such as the probability of successful transmission in terms of collision probability, and feedback mechanism and retransmission. Regarding the coding process, our model uses a multi-class queueing network where coded packets are separated from native packets and have a non-preemptive higher priority over native packets, and both queues are in a stable state. Finally, we use simulations to verify the accuracy of our analytical model.
@cite_6: In wireless networks, throughput optimization is an essential performance objective that cannot be adequately characterized by a single criterion (such as the minimum transmitted or sum-delivered throughput) and should be specified over all source-destination pairs as a rate region. For a simple and yet fundamental model of tandem networks, a cross-layer optimization framework is formulated to derive the maximum throughput region for saturated multicast traffic. The contents of network flows are specified through network coding (or plain routing) in network layer and the throughput rates are jointly optimized in medium access control layer over fixed set of conflict-free transmission schedules (or optimized over transmission probabilities in random access). If the network model incorporates bursty sources and allows packet queues to empty, the objective is to specify the stability region as the set of maximum throughput rates that can be sustained with finite packet delay. Dynamic queue management strategies are used to expand the stability region toward the maximum throughput region. Network coding improves throughput rates over plain routing and achieves the largest gains for broadcast communication and intermediate network sizes. Throughput optimization imposes fundamental tradeoffs with transmission and processing energy costs such that the throughput-optimal operation is not necessarily energy efficient.
@cite_6 consider a collision-free scheduled access to formulate throughput for both saturated and non-saturated queues in multi-hop wireless networks. However, in case of random access scheme, their analytical model is limited to saturated queues. In this paper, instead of limiting nodes to scheduled access, we study the performance using IEEE 802.11 MAC layer, where collision can occur without assuming saturated queues. In addition, we provide simulation results to verify our model.