FiWi Access Networks Based on Next-Generation PON and Gigabit-Class WLAN Technologies: A Capacity and Delay Analysis (Extended Version)

摘要

Current Gigabit-class passive optical networks (PONs) evolve intonext-generation PONs, whereby high-speed 10+ Gb/s time division multiplexing(TDM) and long-reach wavelength-broadcasting/routing wavelength divisionmultiplexing (WDM) PONs are promising near-term candidates. On the other hand,next-generation wireless local area networks (WLANs) based on frame aggregationtechniques will leverage physical layer enhancements, giving rise toGigabit-class very high throughput (VHT) WLANs. In this paper, we develop ananalytical framework for evaluating the capacity and delay performance of awide range of routing algorithms in converged fiber-wireless (FiWi) broadbandaccess networks based on different next-generation PONs and a Gigabit-classmulti-radio multi-channel WLAN-mesh front-end. Our framework is very flexibleand incorporates arbitrary frame size distributions, traffic matrices,optical/wireless propagation delays, data rates, and fiber faults. We verifythe accuracy of our probabilistic analysis by means of simulation for thewireless and wireless-optical-wireless operation modes of various FiWi networkarchitectures under peer-to-peer, upstream, uniform, and nonuniform trafficscenarios. The results indicate that our proposed optimized FiWi routingalgorithm (OFRA) outperforms minimum (wireless) hop and delay routing in termsof throughput for balanced and unbalanced traffic loads, at the expense of aslightly increased mean delay at small to medium traffic loads.