Delay Analysis and System Capacity Control for Mobile WiMAX Relay Networks

Problem statement: WiMAX relay is an emerging cost effective wireless last mile solution for rural and urban broadband Internet access. Approach: One of the key concerns of WiMAX operators is how many users they can support for an access area where the number of users and the amount of data that can be delivered to the end user depends on the available system capacity. Results: This scenario is even more complex when multi-hop relays are introduced into the network whereas the user access capacity decreases with the increase of hop number. Therefore, to maintain and satisfy QoS demands from various users in a multi-hop relay network, it is essential to control and determine the number of users connect to each zone in regards to different levels of QoS. In this study a system capacity control technique was presented for IEEE 802.16j relay network to control the number of users that connect to the network and calculate the system capacity in terms of a three level relay topology. We presented a simple mathematical analysis of the proposed technique as well as delay analysis of the relay network. Conclusion/Recommendations: The analytical results showed that the proposed technique has achieved the objective of this study. Controlling and determining the number of user is very crucial in order to maximize the throughput for each individual user requirement of QoS, maintain fairness between users in the networks and guarantee QoS for real time application users.