CrossTrace: Cross-Layer Measurement for IEEE 802.11 Wireless Testbeds

In this paper, the authors introduce and evaluate CrossTrace, a framework for performing cross-layer measurements in IEEE 802.11 based wireless networks. CrossTrace allows tracing of parameters at MAC-layer, routing and transport layer in a controlled environment and in a repeatable manner. Using CrossTrace, they conduct a comprehensive measurement study in a miniaturized testbed, in which they analyze the behavior of the IEEE 802.11 MAC-layer with respect to signal strength and bit error rate. They derive the delivery probability, bit error rate dependent on signal strength and MAC-layer datarate with and without interfering background traffic.