N093-225 TITLE: Cross-layer Queue Management and Queue-status Messages for Wireless Tactical Networks

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: JPEO JTRS, Network Enterprise Domain (NED), ACAT I

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.

OBJECTIVE: Develop a strategy suitable for tactical wireless networks that off-loads TCP/IP traffic to temporary storage or alternate pathways rather than simply dropping packets from overflowing queues. In particular, a cross-layer queue management and retransmission approach is of interest.

DESCRIPTION: Tactical networking radios, particularly those integrated into Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANET) have the complex task of retransmitting data from adjoining nodes as well as transmitting "fresh" data from its native user. The network management task is further complicated by the use of encrypted data packets (e.g., "black-core routing"). In military tactical networking applications, all users operate at peak demand simultaneously due to the need to engage a threat or target � this is a very different data load rate scenario than a conventional office or commercial wireless network.

The rate at which data queues are emptied is a function of the instantaneous throughput available and the traffic precedence. When demand exceeds capacity, packets begin being dropped as the queues fill up. A cross-layer queue management strategy would likely possess the following attributes:
- Sense queue status and estimate if overflow condition is developing
- Ability to re-route packets to an external buffer
- Ability to report queue and available capacity status to applications and the user
- An application for management of the external queue device

PHASE I: Develop a cross-layer queue management approach to optimize data throughout on wireless networks with data loading statistics representative of military tactical operations. Prove the viability of the concept using modeling and simulation.

PHASE II: Create a more comprehensive software implementation suitable for development and capability demonstration using software-defined radios development platforms. Demonstrate the performance of the proposed approach. In order to demonstrate practical viability, estimate the digital processing requirements and software code size required to port and adapt the software to available Software Defined Radio platforms.

PHASE III: Enhance and port the software into the JTRS radio product lines. Support development and operational testing processes by users. Maintain and enhance capabilities of software to meet JTRS Enterprise requirements.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The technology developed in this project is directly applicable to any wireless network such as WiFi, WiMax, or emerging emergency services and Homeland Security radio systems.

REFERENCES:
1. Software Communications Architecture, JTRS Standards, JPEO JTRS, http://sca.jpeojtrs.mil/

2. S. Ohzahata, S. Kimura, et al, "A Cross-Layer Retransmission Control for Improving TCP Performance in Wireless LAN," IEICE Transactions on Communications 2007 E90-B(8):2070-2080, http://ietcom.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/E90-B/8/2070?ck=nck

3. E. Hossain and D. Niyato, "A Novel Analytical Framework for Integrated Cross-Layer Study of Call-Level and Packet-Level QoS in Wireless Mobile Multimedia Networks," IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing, Volume 6, Issue 3 (March 2007), pages 322-335, http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1263136.1263377&coll=GUIDE&dl=GUIDE&CFID=26164483&CFTOKEN=95471939

KEYWORDS: cross-layer, queue, retransmission, MANET, wireless, JTRS

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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