Throughput-fairness trade-off in probabilistic medium access control for wireless ad hoc networks

In this work we investigate the interaction between fairness and overall efficiency of wireless networks utilizing minimum-effort signaling and rough administration structure. In such networks the QoS control, like e.g. total throughput maximization, assuring fairness of link-rates etc., has to be accomplished by appropriate medium access design. Using the tools of majorization theory we characterize the interdependence between max-min fair, efficiency-optimal and worst-case probabilistic medium access schemes, with efficiency described by a general function of link-QoS parameters, e.g. total network throughput, sum of logarithmic rates etc. In particular, we characterize the interesting efficiency functionals, which are optimized under max-min fair medium access.