Higher layer perspectives on modeling the wireless channel

We present previous findings that reveal the importance of higher order error statistics in assessing the impact of particular forms of error control on services as seen by the higher layers of a protocol stack. In an effort to generalize our past work on the sensitivity of higher layer protocols to channel errors, we examine ways to capture the behavior of realistic channels with tractable models. We examine the property of weak lumpability of Markov chains as well as apply stochastic bounding techniques to previously published channel models and develop analytical techniques that are especially relevant from the perspective of the higher layers of a protocol stack.