On the problems of data-delay evaluation and minimization in wireless integrated voice/data networks

We approach the data-delay evaluation problem in wireless integrated networks from two distinct viewpoints. In the first we propose an extremely simple method, which yields inaccurate data-delay estimates. However, these estimates preserve (nearly exactly) the ranking of the actual delay values for different voice admission-control policies. Thus, it is possible to perform “ordinal optimization” to determine some of the best policies, without actually obtaining a good estimate of their performance. In the second we address issues related to the development of accurate delay models for integrated networks. A major obstacle to the development of such models has been the lack of an accurate characterization of the time-varying nature of voice traffic in multihop integrated voice/data networks. Our starting point in both cases is the use of the product-form solution to characterize the state of the voice-call process in the network