On analyzing the intra-frame power saving potentials of the IEEE 802.16e downlink vertical mapping
Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) is generally considered as a competitive candidate networking technology for the realization of the 4G vision. Among the key factors towards its successful and widespread deployment are the effective support of mobility and the provision of mechanisms for enabling service access at a high quality level in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Nonetheless, this effort should take into account and adequately address strict and severe energy limitations that the mobile devices are currently facing. Power saving constitutes an issue of vital importance, as mobile terminals continue to incorporate more and more functionalities and energy-hungry features in order to support the ever increasing user requirements and demands. The standard employs variations of power saving classes in a frame-to-frame basis, while recent power saving mechanisms proposed in related research literature limit their activity in whole frames, neglecting, thus, the intra-frame power saving capabilities. In this work, the intra-frame energy conservation potentials of the mobile WiMAX network are studied and a novel analytical approach is provided, focusing on the downlink direction where the bandwidth allocation involves idle intervals and dynamic inactivity periods. Specifically, we endeavour to accurately analyse the potential energy conservation capabilities in an intra-frame point of view, applying the well-known simple packing algorithm to distribute the available bandwidth to the various subscribers. Our analytical findings are thoroughly cross-validated via simulation, providing clear insights into the intra-frame energy reduction capabilities.