Cross-layer interaction management: A modularity consideration

Cross-layer interaction is an indispensable part of cross-layer design, which has been proved to greatly improve the performance of wireless networks. In this paper, a scheme for cross-layer interaction management (CLIM) is proposed. It has the following distinct advantages. Firstly, CLIM achieves efficiency by considering the modularity of protocol stack. Secondly, in CLIM, implementing cross-layer interaction is more flexible than before, because the way to access a layer¿s inner variable can be chosen freely, and will no longer be restricted to specific method like data sharing or signaling. Thirdly, CLIM maintains the good architecture of the wireless protocol stack by using DSA and message queue mechanism to manage the cross-layer interactions. CLIM can be amalgamated with 802.16 signalling system so as to make possible the use of multiple cross-layer designs in a 802.16 terminal.