An Approach for Solving the Unfairness Problem in WLANs

We consider a performance problem that arises in IEEE 802.11 wireless LANs in the infrastructure mode. In a typical set up, an access point (AP) acts as a bridge for wireless stations: either it forwards frames between stations or interconnects the wired and the wireless parts of the network by forwarding data flows in two directions (upload or download) on behalf of wireless stations. As most of the traffic goes through the access point, it requires more transmission attempt probability than wireless stations. However, this requirement is not currently supported by the standard IEEE 802.11 DCF (Distributed Coordination Function) access method that provides approximatively equal channel access probability to all devices in a wireless cell.
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