Performance evaluation of IEEE 802.11e

Abstract

This paper presents an evaluation of the QoS enhancements to the IEEE 802.11 standard, named IEEE 802.11e, currently under specification. Both the enhanced distributed coordination function (EDCF) and hybrid coordination function (HCF) modes of medium access control (MAC) operation are analysed and compared with legacy distributed coordination function (DCF) and point coordination function (PCF). Performance evaluation is attained through computer simulation of a scenario of 802.11 b/e access to an IP core network through an access point (AP) in an infrastructure WLAN.