A new ARQ protocol for wireless ATM networks

This paper describes the design and performance of a new ARQ protocol for wireless ATM networks. The wireless channel is characterized by a higher and variable error rate in comparison with fiber-based networks for which ATM was designed. The purpose of the protocol is to provide a capability to dynamically support ATM-based communications in a fluctuating transmission environment by using selective retransmission. The key ideas in the protocol design consist of variable packet size and periodic status message. The packet size is changed adaptively with the optimal size according to the time-varying conditions of the wireless channel, as a result maximizing the throughput efficiency. The proposed protocol has been validated using a software emulator which incorporates a wireless channel model. Experimental performance results based on the implementation are presented.