A window protocol for transmission of time-constrained messages

Abstract

The authors propose and study a window protocol suitable for transmitting time-constrained messages in a multiaccess network. The protocol differs from traditional window protocols in that it explicitly takes time constraints into account. The window is formed on the basis of the latest time to send a message (LS). A major advantage of the window protocol is that a newly arriving message is immediately considered for transmission if its LS is less than that of all pending messages in the system. As a result, the protocol closely approximates the optimal minimum-laxity-first policy. A performance evaluation through simulation shows that the protocol performs well in a wide range of environments, including under overloaded conditions.