Research On Link Correlation In Wireless Networks

In wireless networks, wireless broadcast media provides the ability to send a singlepacket to multiple receivers. From a set of wireless measurements over the past 4 years,researchers have found that reception on different links is not always independent. The degreeof correlation varies significantly across network topologies and link layers. Metrics thatcapture to what degree packet reception on different links is correlated can quantify what kindof a network is present and help decide which protocols to use for that network.This paper makes following research on link correlation in wireless networks. First,analysis of the random properties of the metric that capture to what degree packet receptionon different links is correlated. Second, present a new metric called bursty links correlationaccording to the characteristic of link correlation changes with time and the link burstiness.Third, extend link correlation to path correlation and analysis of the relationship between linkcorrelation and path correlation, the factors that influence path correlation, the applications ofthe path correlation. Forth, analysis the link correlation from the physical layer, includingbit-error correlation and signal correlation.This paper makes four conclusions. First, the random properties of the metric thatcapture to what degree packet reception on different links is correlated can influence thecorrelation of network. Second, consider the link burstiness in link correlation can predictprotocols performance. Third, path correlation is more negative than link correlation. Forth,the delay of obtaining link correlation from the physical layer is shorter than which from theMAC layer.