Optimizing WiMAX: A Dynamic Strategy for Reallocation of Underutilized Downlink Sub-Frame to Uplink in TDD Mode

WiMAX networks experience sporadic congestion on uplink when applications running at subscriber stations need more bandwidth to transmit than allocated. With the fast proliferation of mobile Internet, the wireless community has been looking for a framework that can address the issue of impediment on uplink. Due to asymmetric behavior of Internet applications downlink sub-frame is expected to have longer duration as compared to uplink. According to IEEE 806.16 standard for WiMAX the segmentation of TDD frame between uplink and downlink can be dynamically redefined even at runtime. Research contributions so far lack in addressing an optimal strategy for readjustment of uplink and downlink sub-frame boundaries; based on traffic statistics. In this paper, we introduce a mechanism that allows uplink sub-frame to grow, borrowing resources from the downlink sub-frame, if the uplink utilization is high and the downlink is being underutilized. We present here, a framework to dynamically demarcate the TDD frame-duration between uplink and downlink. Proposed algorithm takes into account the present utilization of downlink and reallocates a certain quantum of free resources to uplink. This occurs when uplink observes shortage of bandwidth to transmit. We simulate some test scenarios using OPNET Modeler with and without dynamic reallocation capability. The results of our simulation confirm the effectiveness of proposed algorithm which observes a remarkable decrease in end-to-end packet delay. Also, we observe an improvement in throughput at uplink such that, the performance of downlink remains unaffected.