Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/8133
Title: Enhancement of IEEE 802.11 in handling multiple broadcasting audio data in wireless ad-hoc networks
Authors: Nilavalan, R
Floros, A
Keywords: Audio networks;Wireless ad-hoc networks;Wi-fi;Audio industry
Issue Date: 2013
Publisher: Audio Engineering Society
Citation: Chousidis, C, Nilavalan, R and Floros, A. (2013). Enhancement of IEEE 802.11 in handling multiple broadcasting audio data in wireless ad-hoc networks. Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, 61(4), 165-173.
Abstract: Audio networking is a growing field, introducing new and exiting possibilities in the professional audio industry [1]; but it also drastically changes the way audio systems will be designed, built, and used. Today’s networks have enough bandwidth to transport hundreds of high quality audio channels, replacing hundreds of kilograms of cabling in conventional analog audio systems [2]. Currently there are many systems on the market that distribute audio over Ethernet but the majority of sound engineers are not using them yet. There are mainly two reasons that audio networks are not as popular as expected. First, many of the systems are based on a proprietary implementation that does not allow interoperability between different vendors. Second, wired networks, like the conventional analog audio networks, also need a cable installation. It is therefore understood that the development of a wireless digital audio distribution system would be a significant contribution in this sector. IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) as the primary wireless technology in computer networking has made wireless networks widely available and inexpensive. With its most recent amendments, as well as the use of the 5-GHz ISM band, it can facilitate many high quality audio channels. However, the use of this technology has not been the choice for the audio industry so far. It is obvious that a sequence of problems related with the nature of this technology impede the use of Wi-Fi in professional live sound and studio applications [3]. Apart from the well-known drawbacks of interference and security, encountered in all wireless data transmission systems, the way that Wi-Fi arbitrates the wireless channel access is what causes the majority of the problems. In this paper we highlight the drawbacks of the IEEE 802.11 MAC algorithm in handling multiple stations broadcasting of audio data. We simulate a live audio data wireless network and test the limits of the protocol for this type of traffic. Moreover, we modify the 802.11 MAC algorithm to address the above problems. We test the amended protocol using simulation and analyze the results. We also give the directions for the future research in order for this widely accepted technology to be used in the professional audio industry.
Description: This article is made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing fund and can be downloaded from the publisher’s website at the link below. Copyright @ 2013 Audio Engineering Society.
URI: http://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=16702
http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/8133
ISSN: 1549-4950
Appears in Collections:Electronic and Computer Engineering
Brunel OA Publishing Fund
Dept of Electronic and Electrical Engineering Research Papers

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