Efficient coupled PHY and MAC use of physical bursts by ARQ-enabled connections in IEEE 802.16e/WiMAX networks

Abstract

In this paper we address an aspect of the mutual influence between the PHY layer budding blocks (FEC Blocks) and the MAC level allocations in the Uplink and Downlink of IEEE 802.16e/WiMAX networks. In these networks it is possible to transmit MAC level frames, denoted MAC PDUs, such that a PDU contains an integral number of fixed size Data Blocks. PDUs are transmitted over PHY Bursts, which are divided into FEC Blocks. We suggest an algorithm that computes the best way to define PDUs in a Burst in order to maximize the Burst Goodput. We also give guidelines on how to choose the best Modulation/Coding Scheme (MCS) to use in the Burst, given the SNR of the channel.