Analysis of TCP/MAC Interactions Using the Game Theory

ISO/OSI and TCP/IP protocol stacks provide networks and devices interoperability by exploiting the principle of layering, where every layer is characterized by specific functionalities and is allowed to interact only with adjacent layers by means of standardized interfaces. However, while such principle provides freedom in implementation of the protocols at different layers, it limits the control on the interaction among protocols at different layers. In this framework, it is necessary to develop efficient model to capture the interaction of protocols with a single communication device in order to underline such forms of “indirect” interaction – which may lead to unforeseen performance degradations. The proposed work aims at proposing the usage of the game theory for capturing the interactions within the protocol stack of a single node, with the goal of allowing to determine the “steady state” or the operating point of the system in a given scenario (TCP over IEEE 802.11).