Cross-layer measurements for a comprehensive characterization of wireless networks in the presence of interference

Assessing the overall performance of wireless communication networks is of key importance for optimal management and planning. With special regard to wireless networks operating in an unlicensed band, evaluating overall performance mainly implies facing the coexistence issues, which are associated with the contemporaneous presence of true and interfering signals at the physical layer. This task is difficult to fulfill only on the basis of single-layer measurements, if not prohibitive; a partial perspective of network behavior would, in fact, be gained. With this concern, a cross-layer approach is presented hereinafter. It provides for several measurements to be concurrently carried out at different layers through a proper-automatic station. It aims to correlate the values of the major physical-layer quantities (e.g., channel power and signal-to-interference ratio) exhibited by those characterizing the key higher layers' parameters (e.g., packet-loss ratio. and one-way delay) in the presence of interference. A first step toward a full characterization of how the effects of a problem, which is experienced at the physical layer, propagates along the whole protocol stack, can thus be taken.