Uplink Energy-Efficient Load Balancing Over Multipath Wireless Networks

Abstract— The case of multi-interface mobile devices transmitting video traffic over multiple interfaces simultaneously (uplink). We examine three important issues. First, how to dynamically distribute traffic among each network interface such that the load is balanced. Second, how to minimize the mobile device’s power consumption. Third, how to reduce packet reordering without increasing the end-to-end delay. We propose an analytical model and develop a green energy-efficient load balancing algorithm that finds a sub-optimal solution. Extensive simulations under a practical scenario demonstrate that our proposed algorithm manages to reduce power consumption without sacrificing the quality of service. The advances of wireless technologies, real-time multimedia services have become an indispensable feature on mobile devices, e.g., interactive multimedia and streaming media such as video conferencing, on demand streaming, etc. On the other hand, new mobile devices could be equipped with multiple network interfaces of the same or different technologies such as 4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc. Nonetheless, existing technology allows us to use only one network interface at a time. If we enable the ability to use all or a subset of the available network interfaces simultaneously we could improve the network load balancing and the network reliability. Although there are benefits of using multiple paths, in the context of uplink wireless networks, inefficient traffic load balancing may deteriorate the network performance, hence increasing the end-to-end delay, packet reordering, power consumption, etc. < final year projects >