Patent ID: 8264973
Filing Date: 2012-09-11
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for evaluating via a processor the performance of a network comprising a plurality of stations, the method comprising: establishing a timestep value; analytically generating a plurality of sample paths of a network state, wherein each of the states is simulated at a discrete timestep and wherein each discrete timestep is separated by the established timestep value; probabilistically determining at least one Media Access Control (MAC) state characteristic of a station at a timestep t+δ, δ being the timestep value, based on the MAC state characteristic at time t; for each station in the network, obtaining a probability distribution of an individual instantaneous goodput at each timestep given the station's MAC state at the start of the timestep; dependently sampling the individual instantaneous goodput at each timestep from the obtained probability distribution; and outputting network performance information based on the generated sample paths; wherein sampling the individual instantaneous goodput at each timestep from the obtained probability distribution further includes: applying a randomized algorithm that enforces a negative correlation constraint among any subset of a plurality of stations in the network; correlating the individual instantaneous goodput at each timestep such that the sum of the individual instantaneous goodputs for the plurality of stations in the network equals the determined instantaneous aggregate goodput for the network; ordering the plurality of stations according to a random permutation; and sampling a station's marginal distribution based in part on the sum of all goodputs allocated to it in a prior timestep and an aggregate goodput constraint.